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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20231012T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20231012T131500
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CREATED:20230829T214613Z
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SUMMARY:10.12.23 - Christo Brand
DESCRIPTION:Join us on October 12th for a special presentation by Christo Brand\, Manager of Robben Island\, South Africa. Brand is a former South African prison guard who was one of several who 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 many years. \n \nBIO: \nChristo’s early years were spent on a small farm outside Stanford where his father was the foreman.  The farm was called “Goedvertrouw” – a Dutch word meaning “Good trust”.  He went to a small school on a nearby farm from the age of 5 years.  The nearest bus stop was five miles from his house.  One of the farmworkers\, a black man called Chocolate\, would walk with Christo to the bus stop. \nHis schoolmates were all white boys – the colored and black kids went to another school.  But before and after school these were his friends.  They spent their weekends and free time playing together.  They knew nothing of the cruel racial boundaries in the country.  Life was tough – the family had no luxuries; no electricity.  Evenings were spent listening to Christo’s dad playing the violin and Chocolate\, the guitar. \n\nAt the age of 12\, his father developed pneumonia and the family were forced to leave the farm and move to his uncle’s house in Parow Valley.  Christo started working on the weekends as a builder.  By the age of 17\, he had saved enough money to buy an old Ford Cortina – which needed its engine overhauled and gearbox replaced. \nRather than join the army for National Service as was compulsory for every South African white male\, Christo 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. \nHis 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. \nIn 1982\, Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison.  On 13th March that year\, Christo married Estelle.  Soon afterward\, Christo was transferred to Pollsmoor and was responsible for guarding Mandela for the next 6 years. \nLater Mandela was moved to Victor Verster Prison and the talks about his release escalated. \nOn his release\, Mandela organized a job for Christo as an administrative and logistics manager in the Constitutional Assembly.  Once the Constitution was adopted\, Ahmed Kathrada organized for Christo to start work again on Robben Island – this time as supervisor in the island shop.  The wheel had turned full circle and Christo was back where he started his work career.  But this time on an island free of prisoners – a place of healing and reconciliation.  A place of endless fascination to international tourists\, historians\, political activists\, and anyone with an interest in South Africa’s turbulent past.  On 31st July 2018 after 20 years at Robben Island\, Christo retired to pursue his story-telling on a full-time basis.
URL:https://grrotary.org/event/10-12-23-christo-brand/
LOCATION:University Club of Grand Rapids\, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025\, Grand Rapids\, MI\, 49503\, United States
CATEGORIES:Weekly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grrotary.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/christo-brand.jpg
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