MSR spoke with historical icon Nelson Mandela’s former prison guard and eventual friend, Christo Brand, who stopped in Minneapolis during his U.S. tour to promote his book “Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend.” The new work is co-written with Barbara Jones and edited by Andrew Russell.
“We need more peace in today’s world,” said Brand. “All of these wars going on, political misuse, and division… Nelson Mandela’s character and legacy serves as a reminder of an ongoing, global fight.”
“Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend” explores a unique and significant relationship between Brand and Mandela at the height of the leader’s African National Congress (ANC) tenure, following his 1962 arrest that led to a trial and 27 years of imprisonment, 18 years of which were spent on Robben Island, where he endured grueling conditions. Among the prison staff assigned to oversee the political prisoners was now-author Christo Brand, a young white man who would become one of Mandela’s closest confidants.
Mandela was arrested for his authoritative role in fighting apartheid and was released in 1990 due to increasing international pressure. Leading up to his release, there was a global movement demanding an end to apartheid, which included economic sanctions, boycotts, and diplomatic isolation.
By the late 1980s in South Africa, there were widespread protests, strikes, and acts of resistance from the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid groups. In 1989, F.W. de Klerk became the president of South Africa. De Klerk recognized that apartheid was no longer viable and began taking steps toward reform.
In 1990, he made a historic decision to release Mandela and unban the ANC, signaling his government’s willingness to negotiate a transition away from apartheid. This gave Nelson Mandela leverage for transforming South Africa’s democracy.
Brand has previously published memoirs that offer a broader account of Mandela’s time in prison and Brand’s role as a guard, including “The Prisoner and the Guard” in 2010 and “The Prisoner’s Keeper” in 2012. He takes it a step further with this book, providing a more intimate, personal reflection on their bond and the profound impact Mandela had on him and South Africa’s history, even beyond Mandela’s release. The book offers a unique, personal perspective on Mandela’s time in prison and the uncommon relationship that formed between the two men.
“He changed my life,” Brand said. “He didn’t just change my life — he changed South Africa. They called Nelson Mandela, a man who didn’t believe that the color of your skin should determine your access to the fruits of life, a terrorist. A man, who ironically in prison was terrorized.
“He would always say, ‘The sun’s rays are meant to warm everybody.’ [He was] a man deprived of his humanity who believed in the humanity of all.”
The memoir sheds light on the human side of Mandela and recounts his experiences as a young guard and his evolving views on apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was in full force during Mandela’s lifetime. It also explores themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the power of friendship in the face of adversity.
A cautious beginning
When Brand first met Mandela, he was a 19-year-old prison warder with a limited understanding of the political struggle. His initial role was to enforce the strict rules of the prison system, which included restrictions on communication and interaction between prisoners. But over time a bond began to form, built on respect and shared humanity.
In his memoir “The Prisoner’s Keeper,” Brand recalls how his perception of Mandela shifted from seeing him as a “dangerous terrorist” to recognizing him as a man of immense dignity and compassion. Brand’s gradual transformation was mirrored in Mandela’s own evolving views on reconciliation, an approach he would carry forward after his release.
From prison walls to partnership
As the years passed, Brand’s role as Mandela’s warder grew closer. He provided small acts of kindness in a world of dehumanization. Brand smuggled in books, facilitated secret communications, and shared stories from the outside world. Mandela, despite the grueling conditions, never lost his sense of purpose, often advising Brand on issues of racial justice and the fight against apartheid.
The relationship between the two was not without tension. As a white South African working for the apartheid government, Brand had to navigate the ethical contradictions of his role. At times, Mandela would challenge him, urging him to reflect on his part in the system that oppressed Black South Africans. Yet, the relationship remained grounded in a mutual respect that defied the institutionalized racism that defined the country at the time.
Friendship after freedom
Mandela’s release from prison in 1990 marked the beginning of a new chapter in South Africa’s history and in his personal life. In the years following his freedom, Brand continued to visit Mandela, who had become the symbol of a united, democratic South Africa. The pair’s relationship evolved from that of a prisoner and a guard to that of friends who shared common memories and mutual respect.
Mandela often spoke fondly of Brand, crediting him with playing a role in his survival during the harshest years of imprisonment. Brand, on the other hand, expressed deep admiration for Mandela’s ability to forgive and unite a divided nation.
Their friendship is often cited as a symbol of the power of reconciliation and understanding in overcoming deeply entrenched societal divisions. Both men, in their respective ways, demonstrated that even in the darkest periods it is possible for human connection to transcend the boundaries of race, power and history.
Legacy of unity
Christo Brand’s connection with Mandela is not just a personal story; it embodies the broader narrative of South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy. In a country scarred by years of racial tension and conflict, their friendship is a reminder of the possibility of healing through empathy and forgiveness.
Brand, now an advocate for peace and reconciliation, continues to speak about his experiences with Mandela. For him, the relationship serves as a testament to the enduring power of kindness, even in the most oppressive circumstances.
As South Africa continues to navigate the complexities of its past, the story of Nelson Mandela and Christo Brand remains an inspiring example of how bonds forged in adversity can lead to transformative change.