James Gregory (writer)

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James Gregory (born November 7, 1941 , † 2003 ) was long the censor and prison guard of Nelson Mandela during his imprisonment. He later wrote the book Goodbye Bafana: Nelson Mandela, My Prisoner, My Friend , on which the film Goodbye Bafana was based. The book and the film are based on the idea that a friendship developed between Gregory and Mandela.

View of Mandela

In his autobiography The Long Road to Freedom , Mandela mentions Gregory on two occasions. The first was during his detention in Pollsmoor Prison:

"Often, Winnie's visits were overseen by Warrant Officer James Gregory, who had been a censor on Robben Island. I had not known him terribly well, but he knew us, because he had been responsible for reviewing our incoming and outgoing mail. At Pollsmoor I got to know Gregory better and found him a welcome contrast to the typical warder. He was polished and soft-spoken, and treated Winnie with courtesy and deference. Instead of barking, 'Time up!' he would say, 'Mrs Mandela, you have five more minutes.

(Winnie's visits were often overseen by Warrant Officer James Gregory, who was a censor on Robben Island. I didn't know him very well, but he knew us because he was responsible for checking our mail in and out. It was in Pollsmoor that I met Gregory knew him better and found him a welcome contrast to the typical guard. He was pleasant to deal with and spoke in a soft voice, he treated Winnie with courtesy and respect. Instead of yapping at her with “Time is up!” he would say: “Ms. Mandela , You still have five minutes. "

For the second time, Mandela Gregory mentioned in his autobiography on the day he was released from prison in 1990:

"Warrant Officer James Gregory was also there at the house, and I embraced him warmly. In the years that he had looked after me from Pollsmoor through Drakenstein Correctional Center, we had never discussed politics, but our bond was an unspoken one and I would miss his soothing presence. (Warrant Officer James Gregory was also present and I gave him a warm hug. In the years from Pollsmoor to Draken Prison we had never talked about politics, but we had a good relationship and I would miss his reassuring presence. "

The video The Making Of for the film Goodbye Bafana contains an interview with Nelson Mandela in which he says of James Gregory:

"He was one of the most refined warders. Well informed and courteous with everybody. Soft spoken. Very good observations. I developed a lot of respect for him. (He was one of the most cultured guards. Well informed and courteous to everyone. Pleasant to deal with. Very good observation skills. I developed a lot of respect for him.) "

criticism

Gregory's claims have been contested by Anthony Sampson , one of Mandela's biographers. According to Sampson, Gregory only pretended to have been Mandela's boyfriend in prison to make money. Gregory's close relationship with Mandela was an invention and in reality Gregory rarely spoke to Mandela. Gregory censored the letters to the future president and discovered details from Mandela's personal life, which he sold in Goodbye Bafana .

Sampson said Mandela was considering suing Gregory but waived after the prison administration distanced themselves from Gregory's book. He also said other guards told him in interviews that they suspected Gregory was a spy for the government.

Mandela later invited Gregory to his inauguration as president, apparently because he had forgiven him, along with former President Pieter Botha and prosecutor Percy Yutar , who had indicted him in the Rivonia trial .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Little, Brown & Company, 1994, pages 449 and 490
  2. ↑ Goodbye Bafana: The Making Of , official DVD release of the film.
  3. ^ Mandela: The Authorized Biography, p. 217.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Gregory, James
BRIEF DESCRIPTION South African jailer from Nelson Mandela
DATE OF BIRTH November 7, 1941
DATE OF DEATH 2003