The men behind the uniform
Nelson Mandela’s prison warders
30 May 2011
30 May, 2011 – During over 27 years of incarceration in apartheid prisons, Nelson Mandela formed relationships not only with his fellow prisoners, but also with those who kept him behind bars: his warders.
A page from one of Nelson Mandela’s prison desk calendars
Three warders in particular claimed special relationships with Mr Mandela and remained in contact with him following his release from prison – James Gregory, Christo Brand and Jack Swart.
Who are these three men, and what exactly was the nature of the connections they established with Mr Mandela?
Written by Mike Nicol for the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Nelson Mandela’s Warders aims to tell the stories of these three former warders and to offer a preliminary analysis of their relationships with Mr Mandela.
Christo Brand with Nelson Mandela at the Foundation
Jack Swart and Nelson Mandela. Photo courtesy Louise Gubb
James Gregory seen with framed photographs of Mr Mandela. Photo courtesy Guy Hobbs
