Special Report Transcript Episode 63, Section 4, Time 23:03

I was asking recently one of your guides and he said this is a symbol, it’s not a prison anymore, it’s a symbol of reconciliation. And I said well how is it a symbol of reconciliation? And he said it’s because at this point people who used to be warders here are now working with former prisoners hand in hand. I just was wondering how this was for you, because you’ve been here for seven years now and you are now working with some of the people you were guarding. // That’s right. // What does that mean? It just seems very strange to me. It seems wonderful but strange at the same time. // It’s a big challenge from both sides I think to really get to know each other and understand each other, but we’re working towards a common goal. And all of us, the former warders that are still on the island as well as the former political prisoners see Robben Island as a place which is very very special to all of us. Robben Island is the symbol of democracy in our country and if we can get it right here I think it’s an example for the rest of the country. // And for the rest of the world really in the sense that if you can get people who, one was prisoner and the other was holding the prisoner together, then there can be peace between you, there can be peace between others right. // How do you deal with the fact, I mean what do you tell them, why did you do what you were doing to them? // They don’t ask us those questions. // They don’t ask that question at all? // I think that we all understand that we were part of the system which was in place at the time, so we were doing our job in that system and I think there is a lot of forgiveness from their part. We don’t have any feeling that there’s any hostility against us, they’re treating us very well. We get along and what is so amazing is we are getting to know each other now and through that we’ve seen that there are so many things that we actually have in common and that we’ve always had in common, but we were never allowed in the previous system to talk about these things or to talk to each other about these things. // So you don’t feel as if there’s any need for you to repent, sort of say forgive me, I’m so sorry for what I did? Do you need to do that? Or is it done every day simply in the way you work with them? // I don’t think it’s expected from us to use words in saying that. I think the behaviour towards each other and the help that we give each other in this new job of ours and in the new challenge shows that we respect each other. // But does it show, I’m sorry to put this in this way, but does it show that you’re sorry for what happened? Is that necessary? I’m asking because the country seems, some part of the country seems to be expecting people – who were part of this system – to say I’m so sorry. Others say no it’s alright, let’s just prove how sorry we are by making things better. // I think that’s the route we’re taking. // The better route is day by day confronting the difficulties, rather than saying things like that. // That’s right. // Would it be humiliating for you to say I’m sorry? // No it wouldn’t. // It wouldn’t be a problem. You just feel that you’re now doing your job for democracy. // That’s right. I feel very much part of it and I think that even in the past, even in the system, we must remember that all of the people that worked in the previous system were not racist, were not full of hate towards others in our country. So, I can’t speak on behalf of the system, I can’t speak on behalf of people in correctional services, but for myself it’s never been a problem to communicate and be friends and work together with persons of all race. So, I just live it out. // So you have gone to being a person who is guarding prisoner to somebody who’s guarding memories. // I have a lot of memories. // It is a very good place to go, I mean it’s a good way of doing in the sense of saying you are ready to take home these prisoners and they are ready to take you home too. // That’s right. That’s exactly what’s happening now. // Well that’s a great symbol of hope for me, thank you very much for talking to me and congratulations for making this transition. You know I have the impression that the transition to democracy happens in every human heart. It’s not something which happens in the whole country, if everybody doesn’t do it. And this I think is a very encouraging sign to have come today to Robben island and for you to be the last person to say good bye to me on this island. If you were the warder of the Island and now you are the greeter of the people who come to look at the memories of the past and that’s wonderful for me.

Notes: Ariel Dorfman (Exiled Chilean Writer); Gerald Brand (Former Prison Head); Mandela revisits Robben Island; Historical Photos: Mandela as prisoner,; prison court yard, prisoners doing manual labour

References: there are no references for this transcript