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The interpreter at Nelson Mandela's memorial service has been convicted of theft and once had a string of criminal charges, including murder, laid against him, eNCA reported on Friday. | The television news station reported that a murder, attempted murder and kidnapping case from 2003, against Thamsanqa Jantjie and two other men, was referred to the High Court in Johannesburg in 2004, and was finalised in November 2006.
However the outcome was unknown as the court file for the case was found empty by eNCA reporters.
Using court and police records, eNCA established that Jantjie was convicted of theft in 1995, and is recorded to have received a three-year sentence.
He was charged with housebreaking in July 1997, and malicious damage to property in April 1998.
Jantjie was charged with rape in September 1994, but was later acquitted.
Jantjie was metres away from the likes of SA President Jacob Zuma, US President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro, and Mandela's widow Graca Machel, during proceedings at Mandela's memorial at FNB Stadium, in Johannesburg, on Tuesday.
Jantjie has reportedly said he had suffered a schizophrenic episode during the memorial, in which the signs he made were dismissed as gibberish by the deaf community.
- NPA LOOKING FOR INTERPRETER RECORD FOLLOWING REPORT
The National Prosecuting Authority said on Friday no court records of a murder case involving the "fake" interpreter at former president Nelson Mandela's memorial were currently available.
"I cannot confirm that the guy was charged, but I cannot deny it either," said spokesman Nathi Mncube.
"There are no records right now."
Mncube made his comments after eNCA television news reported that Thamsanqa Jantjie had been involved in a murder court case, convicted of theft, and charged with various other crimes over the past few years.
Jantjie was apparently one of three men involved in a murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping case from 2003, that was referred to the High Court in Johannesburg in 2004, and finalised in November 2006.
However, the outcome was unknown as the court file for the case was found empty by eNCA reporters.
Mncube said the television station had provided a police case number to the NPA, but despite efforts to trace a record, one had not been found by Friday afternoon.
He said a case dating back to 2006, would "take a while" to trace.
Using court and police records, eNCA established that Jantjie was convicted of theft in 1995, and is recorded to have received a three-year sentence.
He was charged with housebreaking in July 1997, and malicious damage to property in April 1998.
Jantjie was charged with rape in September 1994, but was later acquitted.
Jantjie was metres away from the likes of President Jacob Zuma, US President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro, and Mandela's widow Graca Machel during proceedings at the memorial at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
After the report into his criminal background emerged, the SA Police Service said an investigation would still need to wait until after Mandela's funeral.
"As the Minister said, there is going to be an investigation after the funeral," national police spokesman Lt-Gen Solomon Makgale told Sapa.
Before criminal charges were reported, on Wednesday, Chabane said government would investigate reports that Jantjie did not use intelligible sign language.
Subsequent to the memorial, Jantjie told various media outlets that he had suffered a schizophrenic episode during the memorial in which he saw angels and panicked when he realised he was surrounded by armed police.
Comment from government communication services about the reported criminal charges was not immediately available on Friday afternoon.
Interpreter's charges uncovered
The television news station reported that a murder, attempted murder and kidnapping case from 2003, against Thamsanqa Jantjie and two other men, was referred to the High Court in Johannesburg in 2004, and was finalised in November 2006.
However the outcome was unknown as the court file for the case was found empty by eNCA reporters.
Using court and police records, eNCA established that Jantjie was convicted of theft in 1995, and is recorded to have received a three-year sentence.
He was charged with housebreaking in July 1997, and malicious damage to property in April 1998.
Jantjie was charged with rape in September 1994, but was later acquitted.
Jantjie was metres away from the likes of SA President Jacob Zuma, US President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro, and Mandela's widow Graca Machel, during proceedings at Mandela's memorial at FNB Stadium, in Johannesburg, on Tuesday.
Jantjie has reportedly said he had suffered a schizophrenic episode during the memorial, in which the signs he made were dismissed as gibberish by the deaf community.
The National Prosecuting Authority said on Friday no court records of a murder case involving the "fake" interpreter at former president Nelson Mandela's memorial were currently available.
"I cannot confirm that the guy was charged, but I cannot deny it either," said spokesman Nathi Mncube.
"There are no records right now."
Mncube made his comments after eNCA television news reported that Thamsanqa Jantjie had been involved in a murder court case, convicted of theft, and charged with various other crimes over the past few years.
Jantjie was apparently one of three men involved in a murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping case from 2003, that was referred to the High Court in Johannesburg in 2004, and finalised in November 2006.
However, the outcome was unknown as the court file for the case was found empty by eNCA reporters.
Mncube said the television station had provided a police case number to the NPA, but despite efforts to trace a record, one had not been found by Friday afternoon.
He said a case dating back to 2006, would "take a while" to trace.
Using court and police records, eNCA established that Jantjie was convicted of theft in 1995, and is recorded to have received a three-year sentence.
He was charged with housebreaking in July 1997, and malicious damage to property in April 1998.
Jantjie was charged with rape in September 1994, but was later acquitted.
Jantjie was metres away from the likes of President Jacob Zuma, US President Barack Obama, Cuban President Raul Castro, and Mandela's widow Graca Machel during proceedings at the memorial at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
After the report into his criminal background emerged, the SA Police Service said an investigation would still need to wait until after Mandela's funeral.
"As the Minister said, there is going to be an investigation after the funeral," national police spokesman Lt-Gen Solomon Makgale told Sapa.
Before criminal charges were reported, on Wednesday, Chabane said government would investigate reports that Jantjie did not use intelligible sign language.
Subsequent to the memorial, Jantjie told various media outlets that he had suffered a schizophrenic episode during the memorial in which he saw angels and panicked when he realised he was surrounded by armed police.
Comment from government communication services about the reported criminal charges was not immediately available on Friday afternoon.
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