FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2013 file photo, Thamsanqa Jantjie, the bogus sign language interpreter at last week's Nelson Mandela memorial service, speaks at his home in Bramfischerville, South Africa. Jantjie was among a group of people who accosted two men found with a stolen television and burned them to death by setting fire to tires placed around their necks, one of the interpreter's cousins and three of his friends told The Associated Press Monday, Dec. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Itumeleng English, File) SOUTH AFRICA OUT
December 17, 2013 - 8:58 AM
JOHANNESBURG - The bogus sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela's memorial says he has interpreted for years at big events for the South African government and the ruling party.
Thamsanqa Jantjie told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he has records to prove that he worked at official events in the past.
He also said he was undergoing a medical examination Tuesday at a psychiatric hospital west of Johannesburg. The hospital says it cannot divulge information about patients.
A cousin and three friends of Jantjie say he was part of a mob that accosted two men found with a stolen television and burned them to death by setting fire to tires placed around their necks in 2003.
Jantjie has said he has schizophrenia and hallucinated during the Dec. 10 memorial for Mandela.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013