Huge fraud at Mandela's memorial ceremony

[Tallaabo]

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

 

 

 

 

South Africa’s deaf community on Wednesday accused the sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s memorial of being a fake, who had merely flapped his arms around during speeches.

 

“He’s a complete fraud,” Cara Loening, director of Sign Language Education and Development in Cape Town.

 

“He wasn’t even doing anything, There was not one sign there. Nothing. He was literally flapping his arms around.”

 

The interpreter, who translated US President Barack Obama’s speech, looked as if he was “trying to swat a few flies away from his face and his head”.

 

“The deaf community in South Africa are completely outraged and nobody knows who he is,” said Loening.

 

“We can’t find a name or anything. The organisations who have accredited interpreters do not know him at all.”

 

The government organisers of the event, as well as broadcaster SABC could not immediately be contacted.

 

Attended by nearly 100 sitting and former heads of state, the speeches at Mandela’s memorial on Tuesday were supposed to be interpreted into sign language for deaf viewers.

 

Delphin Hlungwane, a spokesperson for the Deaf Federation of South Africa, said the man picked for the job was “just gesturing in the air”.

 

“He didn’t interpret at all, he had zero percent accuracy,” he said.

 

“International people were watching it as well and they all said he was not using any kind of sign language. They all said they don’t understand him,” said Hlungwane.

 

Loening said her organisation was getting mails from around the world “wondering what on earth this man was doing there”.

 

“It’s a real embarrassment. Its complete disrespect for the deaf community and for what Nelson Mandela stood for and the support which he gave toward he deaf community.”

 

The government communications office said a statement would be put out shortly.

 

The country’s public broadcaster, which provided the feed of the event, could not be immediately reached.

 

Source: AFP

[Che -Guevara]

Is there only one deaf language? He could have been talking Zulu deaf....

[Tallaabo]

Che -Guevara;990631 wrote:

Is there only one deaf language? He could have been talking Zulu deaf....

I have got no clue about that!! But in my opinion, as no words are used, each hand gesture can convey the same meaning in every language. For instance, shaking of the head right to left and back can be translated as NO.

[Che -Guevara]

hehe sarcasm Tabs

[Marksman]

That's sad. On another note, Desmond Tutu's house was burgled while he was at the memorial service.

[Che -Guevara]

Perfect timing

[Guje]

;)

[Tallaabo]

Marksman;990638 wrote:

That's sad. On another note, Desmond Tutu's house was burgled while he was at the memorial service.

Lol where else can this happen!!

[Safferz]

I feel bad but I laughed so hard at this.

[Homunculus]

The guy has balls, flapping his arms around making the same gestures again and again to millions of people.

[Gheelle.T]

There are 11 official languages in SA and he used none for his translation. Btw, for a minute I thought the dude was Julius Malema. There is some resemblance between the two or is it just me?

[Mooge]

The guy was saying nothing just like the politicians giving the speeches.

[sugarnspice]

^Looool

 

I couldn't believe it! But I actually bursted out laughing.

[sugarnspice]

^Looool

 

I couldn't believe it! But I actually bursted out laughing.

 

How do you delete this :confused:

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Since I am a good body reader, waaba ka shakisnaa ninkaan, suu gacmaha u dhaq dhaqaajinaaye si nooc kale u ekeyd. Then I thought perhaps he is not understanding some of the accents of the speakers. Shaqo sahlan ma'aha to simulteneously interpret with gacmahaaga with all that noise and those dignataries right next to you and without no prior briefing of the speeches.