Thamsanqa Jantjie has put the events of December 10 2013 - the day he farcically "interpreted" at Nelson Mandela's memorial service - behind him and is aiming to be a "champion".
"Yes, I made a mistake. Every day we all make mistakes, but the trick is to learn from them. If I had to do it all over again, I would. I made a mistake that day, but I am not ashamed of myself. My family loves me and I have so many friends," says Jantjie.
"I failed on the day, but it was not because of a lack of trying. Despite what happened I have not lost hope."
His bizarre gesticulations at Mandela's memorial service in front of a TV audience of millions led to Jantjie - who is schizophrenic - being dubbed a fake, and cost him his job.
"It was the end of my interpreting career, but it is not the end of me. I have gone on to bigger and better things and am helping to bring about awareness [of mental illness] and change."
After the memorial service at FNB Stadium, Jantjie starred in an Israeli-produced commercial. These days he is a motivational speaker.
"I am the captain of my own destiny and determined to make a success of myself. I go out to churches and events where I speak about that day, what it meant for me and how having a mental illness affects a person's life.
"Someone somewhere has a mentally disabled child and these children need a champion.
"Just like we had Mandela as a champion who beat apartheid, so too do we need champions to beat mental illnesses.
"Mental illness is one of the most undiagnosed illnesses in South Africa. People just don't talk about it.
"Many of those living with these terrible illnesses suffer in silence."