Prison journalism: The feelings I hold for Nelson Mandela

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

RESTORE is a NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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