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Christo Brand is a South African former prison guard who was one of several that were responsible for guarding Nelson Mandela. He came to Robben Island, where Mandela was being held, in 1978 when he was 19 years old.
In 1982 he was transferred along with Mandela to Pollsmoor Prison. Christo and Mandela developed a close friendship over the course of many years. He is the co-author of his book, Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend (2014). Christo retired from Robben Island on 31st July 2018 to pursue his storytelling on a full-time basis.
How was it possible for these two men from such seemingly different backgrounds to develop a relationship which was to become so much more – a lasting friendship based on a mutual trust and respect for each other?
Surely, they should have hated each other. One was a white, 18-year-old Afrikaans speaking prison guard representing the oppressive, apartheid regime of the time; the other – a black, 60-year-old Xhosa speaking terrorist serving a life sentence.
Rather than join the army for National Service as was compulsory for every South African white male, Christo Brand decided to join the prison service. After training for a year in Kroonstad, he applied for a post on Robben Island because he wanted to be close to home.
His application was successful and at the age of 19 he was sent to work on Robben Island in 1978. That was when Christo first came across Nelson Mandela who at that time was 60 years old. This was where they formed a relationship which was to become so much more. A close friendship built on trust and mutual respect for each other.
In 1982, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison. On 13th March that year, Christo married Estelle. Soon afterwards, Christo was transferred to Pollsmoor and was responsible for guarding Mandela for the next 6 years.
Encouraged and supported by Nelson Mandela, in 2014 Christo wrote his book “Doing Life with Mandela – My Prisoner, My Friend”, with co-author Barbara Jones.
In the Foreword, Ahmed Kathrada writes: “My lasting impression of Christo Brand is that he’s a very good human being. He’s not a politician; he’s just a very caring man who took chances for other people, which could have brought him trouble.
I sincerely hope that Christo’s book will receive the respect and attention it deserves. It is a valuable addition to the writings about imprisonment in the apartheid era, and it is written by a fine man.
It is also unique in that it is the most honest account I have read by a warden relating their interaction with Nelson Mandela, and for that alone it deserves credit. I wish Christo Brand all the success in the world.”
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Christo Brand is a South African former prison guard who was one of several that were responsible for guarding Nelson Mandela. He came to Robben Island, where Mandela was being held, in 1978 when he was 19 years old.
In 1982 he was transferred along with Mandela to Pollsmoor Prison. Christo and Mandela developed a close friendship over the course of many years. He is the co-author of his book, Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend (2014). Christo retired from Robben Island on 31st July 2018 to pursue his storytelling on a full-time basis.
How was it possible for these two men from such seemingly different backgrounds to develop a relationship which was to become so much more – a lasting friendship based on a mutual trust and respect for each other?
Surely, they should have hated each other. One was a white, 18-year-old Afrikaans speaking prison guard representing the oppressive, apartheid regime of the time; the other – a black, 60-year-old Xhosa speaking terrorist serving a life sentence.
Rather than join the army for National Service as was compulsory for every South African white male, Christo Brand decided to join the prison service. After training for a year in Kroonstad, he applied for a post on Robben Island because he wanted to be close to home.
His application was successful and at the age of 19 he was sent to work on Robben Island in 1978. That was when Christo first came across Nelson Mandela who at that time was 60 years old. This was where they formed a relationship which was to become so much more. A close friendship built on trust and mutual respect for each other.
In 1982, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison. On 13th March that year, Christo married Estelle. Soon afterwards, Christo was transferred to Pollsmoor and was responsible for guarding Mandela for the next 6 years.
Encouraged and supported by Nelson Mandela, in 2014 Christo wrote his book “Doing Life with Mandela – My Prisoner, My Friend”, with co-author Barbara Jones.
In the Foreword, Ahmed Kathrada writes: “My lasting impression of Christo Brand is that he’s a very good human being. He’s not a politician; he’s just a very caring man who took chances for other people, which could have brought him trouble.
I sincerely hope that Christo’s book will receive the respect and attention it deserves. It is a valuable addition to the writings about imprisonment in the apartheid era, and it is written by a fine man.
It is also unique in that it is the most honest account I have read by a warden relating their interaction with Nelson Mandela, and for that alone it deserves credit. I wish Christo Brand all the success in the world.”
Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our YouTube channel
Household name Danny K (real name Danny Koppel) sang his way into South African hearts almost 20 years ago – but there are now audiences around the country surprised to hear the multi-talented singer, songwriter, producer and businessman deliver inspiring keynote addresses. Best known for his SAMA award-winning hits and the non-profit organisation SHOUT, which […]
Pie-Pacifique Kabalira-Uwase embodies resilience, determination, and the unyielding pursuit of dreams against all odds. Born into the tumultuous backdrop of war-torn Rwanda, Pie-Pacifique’s early life was marked by the horrors of genocide. Faced with the grim reality of violence and persecution, he made the courageous decision to leave his homeland in pursuit of safety. His […]
Apart from being an author Cindy Norcott is a wife, mother to two girls, a businesswoman, has climbed Kilimanjaro, built a crèche for needy children, has her own foundation, is a motivational speaker and an entrepreneur who single handedly launched her business, Pro Appointments, 24 years ago. Over the past 25 years, Cindy has honed […]
Dr. Adriana Marais stands at the frontier of human exploration, both on Earth and beyond. As a theoretical physicist and technologist, she illuminates the pathways to our cosmic future with a blend of scientific rigor and unbridled curiosity. Her journey, driven by a profound belief in the potential of humanity, has taken her to the […]
Sara-Jayne King is a mixed-race South African/British journalist and radio presenter whose career has taken her across the globe in search of remarkable stories and fascinating characters. Her career began as a junior journalist in local radio in London and since then has included roles in the Middle East and Africa, most recently as a […]
Linda Ntuli is a former Electrical Engineer turned Management Consultant, Linda Ntuli is now a motivational speaker, a trainer, a facilitator, an author, a life coach who has excellent personal, organisational and client relationship management capabilities. He spent over 12 years at Transnet, Eskom, Microellettrica and Afrox in the electrical engineering, project management, sales and […]
Redi Tlhabi has spoken and moderated at numerous national and International events for clients such as Discovery, Uber, Investec and The Global Fund. And has recently been invited by Melinda Gates and Sir Richard Branson to host/moderate their upcoming events in Johannesburg. Redi Tlhabi is a South African journalist, producer, author and a former radio […]
Prof Wayne Derman is Professor of Sports and Exercise Medicine at the UCT Sport Science Institute of South Africa and is Co-Director of the Sports Medicine Services and Research Group, incorporating the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence and IOC Research Centre for Injury Prevention and Health of the Athlete at the Institute. He is a […]
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