THE African National Congress (ANC) said on Thursday it had not been aware of complaints about sign language interpreter Thamsanqa Jantjie, despite having used his services in the past.
Mr Jantjie angered the deaf community after his incorrect use of sign language at the official memorial service for former president Nelson Mandela on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old told various media on Thursday that he had a schizophrenic episode at the event.
Mr Jantjie has featured at some ANC media briefings over the past few years.
ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu confirmed in a statement on Thursday that the party had in the past used Mr Jantjie’s services.
However, he also said the official memorial service was organised by the state and not by the party.
"The processes that were followed to procure Mr Jantjie’s services were thus government processes and not ANC processes," he said. "Because of this, the ANC is not in a position to offer a view on how his services were secured by government."
In depth: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918- 2013
News and views on the death, and life, of former president Nelson Mandela, with tributes and photographsMr Mthembu said that until Thursday the party had not been aware of any complaints over the "quality of services, qualifications or reported illnesses" of the interpreter. The government scrambled on Thursday to contain the embarrassment from the saga, as Mr Jantjie’s incorrect signing was beamed across the globe.
Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities spokeswoman Emilie Olifant on Thursday distanced the department from the procurement of his services, but felt that it had to respond to "clarify" matters around sign language.
Ms Olifant said that organising the memorial service was an inter-departmental task, and could not say which department had procured Mr Jantjie’s services.
She said the company that had reportedly seconded him, SA Interpreters, was found to be non-existent.
The department did not believe that the incident was an embarrassment, but rather that it pointed to the need to accelerate a national accreditation system for South African sign language interpreters.
Mr Jantjie "interpreted" the tributes to Mr Mandela by world leaders such as US President Barack Obama and South Africa’s own President Jacob Zuma.
A complaint was reportedly launched with the Pan South African Language Board after his flawed sign language at the memorial service.
