By C1 Staff
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The warden who guarded Nelson Mandela spoke of the man on the event of his death.
“Mandela was my prisoner, my president and my father,” Christo Brand, 53, told IOL. He was the warden of Robben Island, and remained Mandela’s warden through transfers to Pollsmoor in Cape Town and Victor Verster in the Cape winelands.
“When he was released, the prison was empty for me. But we still kept in touch. He was like a father to me. He was down to earth. When I had a problem, he would give me advice. He was my prisoner, but he was my father.
“There was no color barrier between us. He was a human being,” he added.
“I was not allowed to be friends with him. You had to do your job. But if you do become friends, you did it after hours.”
Nelson Mandela died yesterday, December 5, at the age of 95.