Christo Brand: Motivation Speaker

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 […]

Travel & Fee Range:**

  • Travels from: Cape Town, WC
  • **Fee range: 35,001 - 50,000

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 […]

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.

Christo Brand

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 

Videos

Speakers Contact

Speaker Enquiry Form

In order to view the below you must be logged in.

  • Powerpoint Slide – For meeting and event planners
  • Gallery Images
  • High Resolution Images
  • PDF Files
  • Books and Magazine Links

View further speakers

Ndumiso Lindi – Corporate Comedian the comedy Gentleman we know as the Roosta, is a brilliant and genuinely funny South Africa comedian. His intuition and intellect give him a firm grasp of his nation’s collective funny bone, and so he appeals to a huge spectrum of the population. From the first time you see Ndumiso, you […]

  • Comedian

Professor Piet Naude regularly speaks at business and civil society conferences and has done consulting work for national and international listed companies on issues of ethics and governance. He holds an MA in Philosophy (cum laude) and a Doctoral degree in Theology from the University of Stellenbosch. He is a Professor of Ethics and former […]

  • Ethics Speaker

Dr Saville is a passionate advocate for economic inclusivity and social justice. He has dedicated his career to unraveling the intricate tapestry of South Africa’s economy, working tirelessly to identify opportunities for sustainable development and shared prosperity.

  • Economist

Emma Sadleir is a media law consultant and speaker based in Johannesburg. Her areas of expertise include all aspects of print and electronic media law, with a particular focus on social media law. She has a BA LLB (with distinction) from the University of Witwatersrand and an LLM in Information Technology, Media Communications Law (with distinction) […]

  • Social Media Expert

Mandy Wiener is one of South Africa’s most acclaimed and influential journalists, celebrated for her fearless reporting and dedication to truth. As an investigative journalist and award-winning author, Mandy has spent years exposing societal injustices, uncovering corruption, and shedding light on some of the nation’s most pressing issues. Known for her integrity and credibility, she […]

  • Political Journalist

Wendy Mahoney corporate positions include; Executive Director European Times, Director Sales and Marketing CNBC and Forbes Africa, General Manager Sales Trudon South Africa and Director Trudon Namibia. Wendy now heads Newmella Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a Global Business Innovation Consultancy focused on growing the profit of companies by enabling and inspiring them to innovate at a […]

  • Behavioural Specialist

Nozipho Tshabalala is a world-class facilitator and CEO of The Conversation Strategists, a trailblazing organization devoted to curating and moderating high-impact conversations that move societies forward. Renowned for her unique talent to steer transformative dialogues, Nozipho is the trusted voice in rooms where ideas shape policy, influence global economies, and ignite systemic change. Her work […]

  • Event Emcee

Dalin Oliver hosts Happy Hour, a weekly comedy show on the Western Cape commercial radio station, Good Hope FM on Mondays between 11:00am and 12:00pm with fellow comedian Carl Weber. Dalin is also the sports presenter on the radio station’s breakfast show weekdays between 06:00am and 09:00am, hosted by Nigel Pierce. His passion for the […]

  • Comedian
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various conference entertainers and other talent.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.

Fee ranges where listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only.

All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.

Our Mission

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

Newsletter Signup

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel