Prison journalism: The feelings I hold for Nelson MandelaFawaaz Adendorff was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Correctional Centre and participated in a Restorative Justice programme while behind bars.
by Fawaaz Adendorff
25-05-2023 11:05
in Prison Journalism
Nelson Mandela IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
From my experience in prison and the feelings I hold for Nelson Mandela, it is so deep because through his journey outside of prison, fighting for what was right, and he stood up as a brave man and gave us, as young men, hope.
--
Because through Nelson Mandela's life, he proved to us, in these words, I am truly living and believe everything seems impossible until it is done.
And just to think about what he was going through in prison in the apartheid era, and for what Nelson Mandela did as a black South African, standing up against the whites, and his goal was successful, and it was proven once again that you must never let your circumstances define your future. And we must accept the fact that success was never easy. Nelson Mandela proved how uncomfortable it can get as a strong black man that led and guided a nation.
ALSO READ: Prison journalism: How to endure the winters of a life sentence
--
Nelson Mandela a true leader To me, Nelson Mandela is a true leader, as he stood his ground and proved to the World that change is possible. And the time I was in prison, I was thinking a lot about Nelson Mandela's walk-through freedom. From being a prisoner sitting behind bars, taking orders, and being treated like an animal, feeling hopeless and weak, knowing his people are suffering.
I can relate to that feeling, but Nelson Mandela rose with all that pain and became a leader, which was impossible through the eyes of humans' eyes, and it is something I always want to embrace to be a true agent of change like Nelson Mandela. Being a legend and leaving a legacy behind that will be sustainable for our people to stand as one unity, fighting for what is right.
ALSO READ: Prison journalism: Programming in Pennsylvania prisons gave this lifer purpose
--
I always think if there were more people like Nelson Mandela, life would have been better in South Africa. It feels like after Nelson Mandela passed away, the whole of South Africa passed away. The reason for saying that is, even in prison, we got better treatment because of Nelson Mandela. But after he passed away, it felt like the prisoners were mourning a lot, as he was one of their biggest idols.
Even the wardens gave the prisoners respect and space for two days, doing programmes to celebrate Nelson Mandela because he played a big role in the whole nation's life.
Because his legacy has a very huge ripple effect on the whole continent, and what stood out a lot was that the late president Nelson Mandela went to further his studies, and he was also one of the first black men that met with the Queen Elizabeth II of England in person. And he was a man with a pure heart that stood out in a crowd of people.
ALSO READ: Prison journalism: If I Were A Book
DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received
RESTORE is a NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.
Do you have contact with a prison inmate who would like to write for The South African website?
If so, send an email to info@thesouthafrican.com or a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211
You can also follow @TheSAnews on Twitter and The South African on Facebook to get the latest prisoner journalism articles.
How much of a rugby fanatic are you? Answer these 5 simple rugby questions and stand the chance of winning R1 000 in cash!
Most recent headlines
29/12/2025
San Francisco 49ers Strike Gold With Halftime Laser Spectacular Stunning display caps $200 million renovation of Levi's Stadium tech By Dan Daley, Audio Ed...
29/12/2025
The Cup's Around the Corner: An Inside Look at Broadcast Preparations for th...
29/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Longform Video Watch the standout keynote conversations, deep dives, and panel discussions from the year for free on SVG PLAY! By Brand...
29/12/2025
From crisper Lossless audio and immersive music videos in beta to new Audiobooks+ plans, custom transitions between tracks, and in-app Messages, we keep levelin...
29/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
27/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
25/12/2025
Holiday lights are twinkling, hot cocoa's on the stove and gamers are settling in for a well-earned break.
Whether staying in or heading on a winter getawa...
24/12/2025
What is AI good for? Posted by MTI Film on December 24, 2025
What is AI good for?
What is AI good for?
It's been three years since ChatGPT first cap...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
The Boyfriend' Season 2 Unveils Heartwarming Trailer, Key...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
Love, Fights, and Everything in Between: Badly in Love' Returns for Season 2
Entertainment
24 December 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied t...
24/12/2025
Scripps Research study links sleep variability with sleep apnea and hypertension How consumers' digital activity trackers could enable personalized health s...
23/12/2025
How guilas Cibae as Dominican Winter League Games Are Locally Produced for Glob...
23/12/2025
BitFire's Jim Akimchuk on Supplying Scalability and Customization in the Clo...
23/12/2025
CAMB.AI Enables European Athletics to Offer Multi-Language SupportPlan is to eventually offer translation into all languages spoken in EuropeBy Ken Kerschbaumer...
23/12/2025
Analysis: As sports media values trend negative, scarcity and quality are king By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 14:08
Print ...
23/12/2025
ESPN, Disney, and NBA Return to the Animated Altcast Fray With Second Edition of...
23/12/2025
End the Year on a High Note and Donate to the Sports Broadcasting Fund Today! By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:25 pm
...
23/12/2025
The year is winding down, the weather outside is frightful, and it's the perfect time to escape into a story that warms the heart. For listeners looking for...
23/12/2025
A Zeus motor is hot fire tested at L3Harris' Camden, Arkansas, solid rocket ...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Lightware will exhibit several major product innovations at ISE 2026, including the new USB-C BOOSTER-V1, Google Meet. integration for various Taurus UCX models...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Taking the Stage at Carnegie Hall-On a Global Scale Boston Conservatory Orchestra students reflect on their epic concert marking the 80th session of the UN Gene...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's The Great Flood and Culinary Class Wars 2 Top Gl...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things By the Numbers: How the Global Phenomenon Shap...
23/12/2025
Experience the power of WO Automation for Radio's newest service, the System Effectiveness Review. Designed to help you achieve more, a System Effectiveness...
23/12/2025
23 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan and Rakuten Symphony Collaborate to A...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
How Steamy Can It Get? Single's Inferno' Season 5 Pre...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
33 Million Global Viewers on Netflix Watched Jake Paul vs. Ant...
23/12/2025
New technique lights up where drugs go in the body, cell by cell Scripps Research scientists developed a technique that maps drug binding in individual cells th...
22/12/2025
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Presidio's Neerav Shah on the Role of Its Captiva...
22/12/2025
Hitting the bullseye: Sky Sports readies itself for the biggest PDC World Darts ...
22/12/2025
Unique skillset: Bringing new directors to the world of darts at The Worlds with...
22/12/2025
Gravity Media prepares for a flight of fancy with the PDC World Darts Championsh...
22/12/2025
One hundred and eighty: Gravity Media on hitting the production bullseye at the ...
22/12/2025
The Famous Group's Jon Slusser on Fascinating Fans Through Immersive Content...
Prison journalism: The feelings I hold for Nelson MandelaFawaaz Adendorff was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Correctional Centre and participated in a Restorative Justice programme while behind bars.
