Johannesburg – Deputy Minister for Women, Children and People with Disability, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, says there were three sign language interpreters at the official memorial service for the late former President Nelson Mandela on Tuesday.
At a briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday, the deputy minister explained that there had been two additional international sign language interpreters, who had been allocated to the SABC and were interpreting to those deaf people who were watching the broadcast on TV.
She said it was unfortunate that the camera only picked up the one sign language interpreter who was interpreting for those deaf people who were physically at the event.
This comes after concerns were raised about the alleged incorrect use of sign language at the event on Tuesday, which saw tens of thousands of people gathering to say good bye to the struggle icon.
Bogopane-Zulu explained that the interpreter had gotten confused as he tried to interpret from English to Xhosa to sign language.
She said he had attended a deaf school and did an introduction to sign language course. He was also able to communicate with his peers.
Bogopane-Zulu, who apologised to the deaf community, assured South Africans that security at the official memorial service was not compromised by the presence of the interpreter.
He had been accredited and was also registered with the South African Interpreters Association.
She said no charges would be brought against the interpreter. – SAnews.gov.za
