At the age of 18, white Afrikaner, Christo Brand was unaware he would be the prison guard for 60-year-old South African freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela. Their relationship grew into a life-long friendship. Brand discusses his new book Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend at Wichita State Monday (12-08-14) on the campus of WSU. Recently, KMUW’s Carla Eckels talked to Brand about his experience with the humanitarian.
Christo Brand served as Mandela’s prison guard for 12 years primarily on Robben Island.
"I look at this criminal prisoner and I see no tattoos of anything on his face. He treated me with respect and I couldn’t understand why the people said he was criminal. Then the sergeant said, 'That’s a terrorist that tried to overthrow our country.' Then I say to myself, 'How can this man be a terrorist? He’s so humble, polite and he does things which you ask him. He’s already old. They should have released him. He does not belong here.'"
"A Conversation with Christo Brand" takes place on Monday, (12-08-14) at 7:00 pm at the WSU Metroplex, 29th and Oliver in Wichita. There is no cost to attend this event.
