Quick name search
CTRL+K
Quick name search
CTRL+K
Categories
Videos
Christo Brand is a South African former prison guard who was one of several that were responsible for guarding Nelson Mandela. He came to Robben Island, where Mandela was being held, in 1978 when he was 19 years old. In 1982 he was transferred along with Mandela to Pollsmoor Prison. Christo and Mandela developed a […]
Christo Brand is a South African former prison guard who was one of several that were responsible for guarding Nelson Mandela. He came to Robben Island, where Mandela was being held, in 1978 when he was 19 years old.
In 1982 he was transferred along with Mandela to Pollsmoor Prison. Christo and Mandela developed a close friendship over the course of many years. He is the co-author of his book, Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend (2014). Christo retired from Robben Island on 31st July 2018 to pursue his storytelling on a full-time basis.
How was it possible for these two men from such seemingly different backgrounds to develop a relationship which was to become so much more – a lasting friendship based on a mutual trust and respect for each other?
Surely, they should have hated each other. One was a white, 18-year-old Afrikaans speaking prison guard representing the oppressive, apartheid regime of the time; the other – a black, 60-year-old Xhosa speaking terrorist serving a life sentence.
Rather than join the army for National Service as was compulsory for every South African white male, Christo Brand decided to join the prison service. After training for a year in Kroonstad, he applied for a post on Robben Island because he wanted to be close to home.
His application was successful and at the age of 19 he was sent to work on Robben Island in 1978. That was when Christo first came across Nelson Mandela who at that time was 60 years old. This was where they formed a relationship which was to become so much more. A close friendship built on trust and mutual respect for each other.
In 1982, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison. On 13th March that year, Christo married Estelle. Soon afterwards, Christo was transferred to Pollsmoor and was responsible for guarding Mandela for the next 6 years.
Encouraged and supported by Nelson Mandela, in 2014 Christo wrote his book “Doing Life with Mandela – My Prisoner, My Friend”, with co-author Barbara Jones.
In the Foreword, Ahmed Kathrada writes: “My lasting impression of Christo Brand is that he’s a very good human being. He’s not a politician; he’s just a very caring man who took chances for other people, which could have brought him trouble.
I sincerely hope that Christo’s book will receive the respect and attention it deserves. It is a valuable addition to the writings about imprisonment in the apartheid era, and it is written by a fine man.
It is also unique in that it is the most honest account I have read by a warden relating their interaction with Nelson Mandela, and for that alone it deserves credit. I wish Christo Brand all the success in the world.”
Contact us at Speakers Inc and subscribe to our YouTube channel
Matthew Willman is a South African based documentary photographer, author & professional speaker. He has expressed himself through an extraordinary body of work which includes writing, storytelling and exhibition. Willman has gained over 24 years’ experience working for some of the world’s foremost institutions in the field of visual communication, development, visual arts and leadership. […]
Peter van Kets stands as a beacon of adventure and inspiration within professional speaking. Hailing from South Africa, he is not only recognized as one of the nation’s foremost adventurers but also as an internationally sought-after keynote speaker and ardent conservationist. His recent feat—a grueling, unsupported race across the icy expanse of Antarctica to the […]
Estienne de Beer – Sales is an award-winning international platform speaker and leadership development specialist with in-depth experience across many companies, countries and cultures. Estienne de Beer – Sales has empowered corporate audiences worldwide at conferences and business events through his keynote wildlife presentation “Meerkat Motivation for the Marketplace”, a motivational talk about achieving results […]
I am Ryan Stramrood a South African, Small Business Owner, Family Man and Average Joe. However my hobby is Ultra Extreme Open Water and Ice swimming, and for deeply personal reasons, I have undertaken some of the world’s most extreme challenges. Pushing my limits and human boundaries in our planet’s most inhospitable places. Following painful, […]
As an experienced keynote speaker, Vinh Giang knows that what transpires on stage is not about him. It’s 100% about the audience. It’s about the life-changing lessons he’s been so fortunate to learn along the way and sharing them in a manner that transforms people. That’s where magic happens. My family are refugees from Vietnam. […]
Pierre du Plessis is a visionary dedicated to fostering human development and empowering individuals to become catalysts for meaningful change. With a profound appreciation for ancient wisdom and a keen understanding of its application in contemporary contexts, Pierre inspires audiences worldwide to tap into age-old truths to navigate today’s complex challenges. As the founder of […]
Travis Gale leverages three key ingredients in his presentations; story, insight and relevant questions which ensure practical application. He has set himself a personal challenge in that every talk that he does will introduce new language and terminology into the context within which he is speaking, ensuring sustainability and ongoing reflection on what he shares. […]
David Beckett is an international Pitch Coach, who has spoken at numerous events and conferences around the world, delivering interactive keynotes on pitching. He is entertaining, full of energy and delivers practical takeaways that the audience can put into place in their next pitch. David has trained over 850 Startups to win over €210 Million […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by Speakers Inc.
All talent fees exclude VAT, travel and accommodation where required.
We are actively working to have our profiles current with Keynote Speech titles, and Summaries.
Some Speakers do not have a set title or summary for their topic lists. Instead they customize for each. Other speakers only do moderated conversations.
If you do not see content here, please contact us.
We also have ample information off line that we can share as some do not want to have visible profiles and as such these are hidden pages. Or in the event we do not have the information, we can contact the speaker to provide and share.
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2024. Created by Speakers Inc