Identity area
Reference code
ZA COM NMFP-2012/41-2012/41-27
Title
Nelson Mandela's Warders (page 27) [Nelson Mandela's Warders_027.jpg]
Date(s)
- 2011 (Creation)
Level of description
page
Extent and medium
1 digital image
0.97 MB
0.97 MB
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Verne Harris
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Page 27 of Nelson Mandela's Warders
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access by permission of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
to the village. It was dark and raining. At some point Brand and a colleague managed to hide under some bushes. Cold and wet, exhausted, they spent the night there.
Life for Brand settled down after the initiation. In fact, he soon felt that life on the Island was a bit like life on the farm. Safe, with open space and fresh air. He bought an old car for R35 so he could easily access the fishing spots on the farthest reaches of the island. But apart from rock fishing he would also use a small boat to fish in deeper waters where he trapped lobster and dived for perlemoen. And every evening he would exercise by jogging the eleven kilometres round the island. But despite his interests he felt the island was a prison. He could escape to the mainland to see his family and girlfriend every second weekend but otherwise he was isolated.
After a few months Brand was told he would not be working with normal prisoners but with men jailed for rape and murder. Men who had killed for no reason. He was taken across to Section B where the Rivonians were incarcerated.
‘When I came in I see prisoners standing up greeting us, these old guys. I never heard of Mandela. I look at these old guys but they’ve got no tattoos, no 28s, 26s. I go through the cells, then I talk to this sergeant and say are you not afraid of them, and he says, no, man, they won’t harm you, they’re relaxed, they’re here for life. I say, who have they killed. He says, no man, they’re terrorists, they’re killing our people on the borders. I said, okay, these are the guys who killed my friend on the border. He said, no, they didn’t kill anyone, they are in for high treason and terrorism. These guys tried to overthrow the government. He told me a little about the Rivonia trial. But this meant nothing to me. Just another terrorist sitting in prison.’
Life for Brand settled down after the initiation. In fact, he soon felt that life on the Island was a bit like life on the farm. Safe, with open space and fresh air. He bought an old car for R35 so he could easily access the fishing spots on the farthest reaches of the island. But apart from rock fishing he would also use a small boat to fish in deeper waters where he trapped lobster and dived for perlemoen. And every evening he would exercise by jogging the eleven kilometres round the island. But despite his interests he felt the island was a prison. He could escape to the mainland to see his family and girlfriend every second weekend but otherwise he was isolated.
After a few months Brand was told he would not be working with normal prisoners but with men jailed for rape and murder. Men who had killed for no reason. He was taken across to Section B where the Rivonians were incarcerated.
‘When I came in I see prisoners standing up greeting us, these old guys. I never heard of Mandela. I look at these old guys but they’ve got no tattoos, no 28s, 26s. I go through the cells, then I talk to this sergeant and say are you not afraid of them, and he says, no, man, they won’t harm you, they’re relaxed, they’re here for life. I say, who have they killed. He says, no man, they’re terrorists, they’re killing our people on the borders. I said, okay, these are the guys who killed my friend on the border. He said, no, they didn’t kill anyone, they are in for high treason and terrorism. These guys tried to overthrow the government. He told me a little about the Rivonia trial. But this meant nothing to me. Just another terrorist sitting in prison.’
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Brand, Christo (Subject)
- Gregory, James (Subject)
- Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla (Subject)
- Swart, Jack (Subject)