FROM APARTHEID TO HEALING: A CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTO BRAND, NELSON MANDELA'S PRISON GUARD

We are honored to announce an unforgettable event in 2025.

Christo Brand, the prison guard who became a confidant and friend to Nelson Mandela, will join us for a compelling conversation about his experience during apartheid and the journey toward healing and reconciliation.

While there is no cost to attend, donations are welcome and will help support the World Affairs Council’s efforts to bring influential figures to San Antonio.

RSVP is required to attend.

We look forward to seeing you at this unforgettable conversation!

Webinar link coming soon !

Christo Brand Biography: 

Christo spent his early years on a small farm outside Stanford, where his father worked as the foreman. The farm was called “Goedvertrouw,” a Dutch word meaning “Good Trust.” From the age of five, Christo attended a small school on a nearby farm. The nearest bus stop was five miles from his house, and one of the farmworkers, a black man named Chocolate, would accompany Christo on the long walk to the bus stop.

At school, all of Christo’s classmates were white boys, as the coloured and black children attended separate schools. However, before and after school, these were the friends he played with. Together, they spent weekends and free time exploring and enjoying life, oblivious to the harsh racial divisions of the country. Life on the farm was modest, with no electricity or luxuries. Evenings were spent enjoying music, as Christo’s father played the violin and Chocolate strummed the guitar.

When Christo was 12, his father developed pneumonia, forcing the family to leave the farm and move to his uncle’s house in Parow Valley. To contribute, Christo began working weekends for a builder. By the time he was 17, he had saved enough money to buy an old Ford Cortina, which he repaired by overhauling the engine and replacing the gearbox.

Faced with compulsory National Service in the army, Christo chose an alternative path by joining the prison service. After a year of training in Kroonstad, he applied for a post on Robben Island, aiming to stay close to home. At the age of 19, in 1978, he was assigned to Robben Island, where he first encountered Nelson Mandela, then 60 years old. This marked the beginning of a remarkable relationship, built on mutual trust and respect.

In 1982, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison. That same year, on March 13, Christo married Estelle. Shortly thereafter, Christo was also transferred to Pollsmoor, where he continued to guard Mandela for the next six years.

Later, Mandela was moved to Victor Verster Prison as discussions about his release intensified. After Mandela’s release, he arranged for Christo to work as an administrative and logistics manager in the Constitutional Assembly. Once South Africa’s Constitution was adopted, Ahmed Kathrada helped Christo return to Robben Island—this time as a supervisor in the island’s shop. It was a full-circle moment, bringing Christo back to where his career began, but now to a transformed island—a symbol of healing, reconciliation, and historical reflection.

On July 31, 2018, after 20 years at Robben Island, Christo retired to dedicate himself to storytelling, sharing his incredible journey with the world.