South Africa is a diverse country with many languages spoken, so there is a high demand for translation and interpretation services. In the judge Mbenenge tribunal, Xhosa interpreters had everyone talking about their flair for the language, and the accuracy of the interpretation. However, there is a shortage of interpreters and translators. The South African Constitution states that citizens have the right to be tried in their language of choice. However, there are not enough qualified interpreters. In health care, most healthcare settings in South Africa lack trained interpreters. This can lead to language barriers that impact patient care. Lerato Mbele was in conversation with South African Sign Language Interpreter – Nthabiseng Ndhlovu and Head of the Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies – Professor Alice Leal.