What's he trying to say now? Fake Mandela signer blames 'voices in his head' for gibberish interpretation that included 'prawns' and 'rocking horse'

• Interpreter at memorial said he may have suffered episode on stage
• Thamsanqa Jantjie said he started hearing voices in his head during event
  
• He has apologised and said he did not know what triggered attack
• It has been claimed he repeatedly signed words 'prawns' and 'donkeys'
  

By JAMES RUSH

PUBLISHED: 07:33 GMT, 12 December 2013 | UPDATED: 11:47 GMT, 12 December 2013

A South African sign language interpreter accused of making up his own signs during a memorial to Nelson Mandela has said he may have suffered a schizophrenic episode on stage.

The interpreter, identified as Thamsanqa Jantjie, 34, said he was qualified but started hearing voices in his head and hallucinating, resulting in gestures which made no sense during the memorial.

Mr Jantjie has apologised for the incident and said he did not know what triggered the attack, saying he took medication for his schizophrenia.

He said he worked for a company called SA Interpreters which had been hired by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for Tuesday's ceremony at Johannesburg's 95,000-seat Soccer City stadium. He said he was paid 85 dollars (£52) for interpreting the event.

Mr Jantjie told Johannesburg's Star newspaper: 'There was nothing I could do. I was alone in a very dangerous situation. I tried to control myself and not show the world what was going on.

'I am very sorry. It's the situation I found myself in.'

Mr Jantjie told the paper he was medically boarded due to his schizophrenia, which has left him relying on a social grant now. He said he used interpreting to make ends meet.

He did not address allegations by sign language experts that he faked interpretation for Tuesday's memorial attended by scores of world leaders and broadcast internationally.

South Africa's leading deaf association had yesterday claimed he was a fake and said he was inventing signs.

FULL STORY & VIDEO: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2522398/Mandela-memorial-si...