The sign language interpreter accused of using fake hand signals at Nelson Mandela's memorial says he had a schizophrenic episode and was hallucinating during the service.
Thamsanqa Jantjie, who stood alongside national and international leaders at the event on Tuesday, says he has been a "champion" of sign language and that he had a breakdown during the event and started hallucinating about angels coming down into the crowd.
But the Sign Language Education and Develoment organisation afterwards said the African National Congress had used Jantjie several times before and he made no sense, calling the interpreter a complete fraud.
The agency that employed him, SA Interpreters, has now reportedly vanished.