Hallucinating Mandela Memorial interpreter
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Thamsanqa Jantjie looks around at a television at his home during an interview with the Associated Press in Johannesburg, South Africa,Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. Jantjie, the man accused of faking sign interpretation next to world leaders at Nelson Mandela's memorial, told a local newspaper that he was hallucinating and hearing voices. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
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Thamsanqa Jantjie gestures at his home during an interview with the Associated Press in Johannesburg, South Africa,Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013. Jantjie, the man accused of faking sign interpretation next to world leaders at Nelson Mandela's memorial, told a local newspaper that he was hallucinating and hearing voices. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
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Man passing himself off as a sign language interpreter punches the air during a speech being given by India's President Mukherjee at memorial service for late South African President Mandela in Johannesburg
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India's President Mukherjee speaks at the podium as a sign language interpreter punches air beside him during a memorial service for late South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg
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Still image from SABC video shows Chief Rabbi of South Africa Warren Goldstein speaking during a national memorial service for former South African President Mandela in Johannesburg
REUTERS
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The man accused of faking sign interpretation while standing alongside world leaders like U.S. President Barack Obama at Nelson Mandela's memorial service said Thursday he hallucinated that angels were entering the stadium, has schizophrenia and has been violent in the past.
Thamsanqa Jantjie said in a 45-minute interview with The Associated Press that his hallucinations began while he was interpreting and that he tried not to panic because there were "armed policemen around me." He added that he was once hospitalized in a mental health facility for more than one year. (AP)