The sign language interpreter used at Nelson Mandela’s memorial was a fake, the Deaf Federation of South Africa reportedly said.

The man, dressed in a dark suit and outfitted with a security pass, shared the stage with President Barack Obama and other world leaders who attended Mandela the memorial service on Tuesday at the FNB stadium.

According to the Deaf Federation of South Africa said the man’s hand signals meant nothing.

“The so-called ‘interpreter’ who interpreted at the official memorial service for late former president Nelson Mandela at FNB stadium has been dubbed the ‘fake interpreter’ and the deaf community is in outrage,” Bruno Druchen, national director of DeafSA, reportedly said in a statement.

“He is not known by the Deaf Community in South Africa nor by the South African Sign Language interpreters working in the field.”

Thamsanqa Jantjies, the sign language interpreter has reportedly told the media  revealed that he suffers from schizophrenia.

“It is very sad at this present moment because I believe that it was an issue that had to be dealt with earlier. If the Deaf Federation of South Africa​ have an issue with my interpreting they should have clarified it a long time ago, not at this crucial time for our country,” Jantjies was reportedly quoted as saying.

He said that he was “absolutely” was happy with his performance during the memorial.

“If I interpreted wrong, why is it an issue now? Why wasn’t it an issue when I was doing interpretation at MaSisulu’s [Albertina Sisulu] funeral and many big events in South Africa?”

Jantjies​ said he was hired by a company called “Interpreters SA”, where he is a senior interpreter.