'Fake' Mandela service interpreter rubbishes murder charges

South African sign language interpreter, who was branded fake at Nelson Mandela's memorial service, has dismissed media claims that he had faced murder charges in the past.

According to a media report, Thamsanqa Jantjie had admitted being part of a mob that burnt two people to death in 2003, but charges against him were dropped on grounds that he was mentally unfit to stand trial..

However, Jantjie dismissed the report as "nonsense" and said that it was a community thing, which is called mob justice, News24 reports.

Jantjie also directed to the national prosecuting authority to verify, if he had any criminal record.

Meanwhile, the prosecution agency declined to "confirm or deny" the allegations, and said it does not keep records of closed cases.

He was blamed for goofing up at Mandela's service by making insensible gestures and flapping his arms around.