Drakenstein Prison
- Details
- Friday, 27 April 2012
- Written by Lesley Cox
- Back to: Educationals
CTGA – Visit to Mandela’s house at the Drakenstein Correctional Services
Mr Edgar Fisher, warden for 28 years at the Drakenstein Correctional Services greeted us at the main entrance gate and began his tour at the statue of Nelson Mandela.
Tokyo Sexaleorganised sculptor Jean Doyle to create this bronze tribute to Nelson Mandela for his 90th birthday.
Surrounding the statue are a mix of large stones to symbolise adults and small stones to represent the children that Mandela did not have in his life while he was in prison.
The white marble remembers the white people who fought against apartheid and the black marble symbolises the power of the nation.
Behind the statue, towards the gate there is a ceremonial flag pole, and on the ground lie 27 rocks, one for each year that he was in prison.
The house is not open to the public and Mr Fisher was not able to give an indication when the house may be transformed into a museum. In the meantime, he and Manfred Jacobs (also a warden) are happy to assist us with any guests who may wish to view the house.
It is around 4 km from the gate, so you need to arrange to meet them at the entrance, and then follow in your car through the prison to the house.
One of the great things about having Mr Fisher and Manfred as guides is that they are able to share many anecdotes about the final 2 years that Mandela spent in the house.
He arrived late night by ambulance. No civilians were allowed within 150m of the property. On seeing the microwave and the television, Mandela asked why he had been given two televisions. We take it for granted how technology had changed over 27 years.
Walking through the house, we were privileged to see Mandela’s living, sleeping, dining and exercise areas. Around the dining table where Mandela and FW De Klerk did their final negotiations, there were two paintings. One of Mandela alone, and one of Mandela and De Klerk in negotiations, created by an inmate from a photograph.
Apart from a few visitors, Mandela’s main company for this final duration was his chef, Jack Swart. Mandela appreciated his kindness and promoted his to an officer on leaving the prison.
In the back garden lies the back garden gate. It was through this gate that Mandela decided to start his walk to freedom (and not the front door). He climbed into a car and was chauffeured to the main gate. On reaching the gate, Mandela requested the car to stop as he preferred to walk through the main prison gate and savour the moment of freedom. Also to make a point to a warden, who on his arrival announced to Mandela that he would never leave this prison alive.
Three movies have been filmed at this house. Goodbye Bafana, Endgame and Invictus. Plans are in the pipeline for a fourth movie about his release.
Mr Fisher also shared with us some information about the prison itself. At any time there are between 2,000 – 3,000 inmates and 1,600 wardens (of which 800 live within the grounds). Life prisoners serve 15 years in the maximum area and on good behaviour are transferred to the medium section and then the minimum section when they can apply for parole.
The DrakensteinCorrectional Services is a self-sustaining entity. It houses both a white and red meat abattoir, dairy and vegetable plots. All are run by inmates which in turns helps them to become trained for future employment on leaving the prison. There are also many opportunities for gaining education.