Christo Brand, a former prison warden at South Africa’s Robben Island, has provided a rare firsthand account of Nelson Mandela’s incarceration, revealing aspects of the political prisoner’s life behind bars as well as the tense dynamics of apartheid-era South Africa. Brand, who was 19 when he began working at the prison, was tasked early on with sorting Mandela’s mail, an experience that altered his perceptions of the man labeled a terrorist by the government.

Mandela had been imprisoned on Robben Island since 1964, sentenced to life for his role in the fight against apartheid. Brand, then a young guard, initially accepted the official narrative but soon grew skeptical as he met Mandela and other political prisoners such as Walter Sisulu and Jacob Zuma, who were known for their polite demeanor despite their harsh treatment. Mandela was held in isolation in a small cell with minimal amenities and faced severe restrictions on visits and correspondence.

Brand recalls a significant moment in 1978, when he was ordered to select six birthday cards from what turned out to be an estimated 55,000 letters sent to Mandela. While Mandela was only allowed 12 cards annually, the vast majority of mail was destroyed, reflecting the regime’s attempts to suppress communication with the outside world.

The hard labor imposed on Mandela and his fellow prisoners in the limestone quarry on Robben Island constituted another form of psychological pressure. Brand described the grueling work conditions—heat, dust, and ever-increasing quotas—as designed to break the inmates’ spirits. Yet, the prisoners used the quarry as a space for covert political discussion. Remarkably, South Africa’s first democratic constitution was reportedly drafted during this time, using a makeshift writing spot around a toilet bucket. Brand expressed admiration for how prepared Mandela and others were for political negotiations following their release decades later.

Despite the official roles they occupied in a deeply segregated society, Brand developed a personal friendship with Mandela. He sought to ease some of Mandela’s hardships by, for example, secretly arranging visits with Mandela’s granddaughter and showing him uncensored letters. Mandela, for his part, aided Brand with legal assistance after a motorcycle accident case. Brand acknowledged the tension his relationship with Mandela caused among some South Africans who viewed Mandela as a terrorist.

In private conversations, Mandela advised Brand against resigning, warning of the dangers that white South Africans faced and expressing appreciation for their friendship amid racial distrust and violence. The government attempted to manipulate Brand’s position to coax Mandela into accepting an offer of release in 1985, fearing unrest if Mandela died in custody. Brand was wired and recorded attempting to persuade Mandela to accept the deal, but Mandela firmly refused, reaffirming his commitment to secure freedom for all political prisoners.

The documentary contributing to Brand’s reflections highlights divisions within Mandela’s inner circle during his imprisonment. Winnie Mandela questioned her husband’s mandate to lead upon release, while Mandela’s granddaughter Ndileka argued that incarceration insulated him from the realities faced by the anti-apartheid movement and that Winnie’s militancy was sometimes more in line with the moment.

Brand’s testimony sheds light on the complexities of Mandela’s imprisonment, the harsh realities of apartheid-era South Africa, and the unexpected human connections forged amid conflict and division.