Personal Friend of Nelson Mandela Speaks At UNCW About Importance Of Education

Casey McAnarney | Assistant News Editor

In a South African prison known as Robben Island in the 1960s, an unlikely friendship formed between prominent twentieth century figure Nelson Mandela and his young prison guard. The guard, Christo Brand, visited UNC-Wilmington on Nov. 13 and spoke about his experiences with the anti-apartheid figure and how humanity and education are vital in the continuing fight for equality.

 “They [originally] employed wardens who were big guys with a poor education,” said Brand about his experience on Robben Island. “Some of these guards would oppress the prisoners and trouble would start. [Prison officials] could not communicate with the guards, so they started looking towards a younger generation. I was a part of that younger generation.”

Brand went into the prison service because during the years of apartheid in South Africa, all white children were forced into military training. “One of my friends died in a military training camp and I didn’t want to join at all, [so] I looked for alternatives and became a prison guard.”

Brand was sent to work on Robben Island, where he was told he would guard the most dangerous prisoners. However, once he arrived at the prison and opened the cell doors for the first time, he saw older people standing up from their mats on the floor. Brand recalled seeing their names by the door but not knowing who they were.

Brand did not know the notoriety that came with the name Nelson Mandela, because people in Cape Town did not mention the names of revolutionaries. Rather, Brand had to research him himself.

“People would be like ‘he is arrested, why do you want to talk about a terrorist in prison?’ if I ever asked [about the names],” said Brand.

However, learning about Mandela’s past did not lesson the respect Brand had for him. Brand remembered how Mandela was respectful towards others and encouraged the education and bettering of both guards and fellow prisoners.

“[Mandela] asked his oppressors to study,” said Brand, “because he thought if he could get his oppressors to study, they could become better people.” Mandela even pushed for the personal education of Brand.

In one story he relayed about his time with Mandela, Brand explained how Mandela had another guard take a chocolate bar to Brand’s wife without Brand knowing. Within the wrapper was a note asking Mrs. Brand to encourage her husband’s studies. Brand did not learn about this note until after Mandela became president of South Africa years later.

From Mandela, Brand learned the importance of education. Mandela considered the opportunity for black children to become educated a platform for equality.

“Now all youth must grab this equal opportunity to study,” said Brand, “because the youth of today get opportunities that were not there during apartheid times. Mandela wanted black and white to go together to school, he wanted a rainbow nation.”

Education of the masses allowed for South Africa to move towards equality. White people did not know what was going on in their own country, according to Brand. Their country and the portrayal of black citizens were controlled by the police and armies. As a result, White South Africans thought that blacks were on the wrong track, with the desire to burn places and kill people.

Through his interview and open discussion on UNCW’s campus, Brand hoped to bring an understanding of humanity to students.

“I understand that America has its own race problems occurring right now,” said Brand. “Your apartheid was long before ours, but I hope your people can learn from South Africa and from what Mandela observed and achieved. That even in America white people and black people can take hands and go forward and educate their children together.”