James Gregory (writer)

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

View of Mandela

In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom Mandela Gregory mentioned on two occasions. The first was during his imprisonment in Pollsmoor Prison:

" Often, Winnie's visits were over seen by Warrant Officer James Gregory, who had been a censor on Robben Iceland. 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. Hey what polished and soft -spoken, and Winnie Treated with courtesy and deference. Instead of barking, 'Time up! ' he would say, 'Mrs Mandela, you have five more minutes. ( Often Winnies visits by Warrant Officer James Gregory, the censor were had been on Robben Iceland, supervised., I did not know him, but he knew everything about us, because he was was responsible for the review of our incoming and outgoing mail. Learned in Pollsmoor I Gregory know better and found him a welcome contrast to the typical guards. he was pleasant to deal with and spoke in a low voice, he treated Winnie with courtesy and respect., he would instead to shout Time up! say, ' Mrs. Mandela, you have five minutes. ) "

For the second time Mandela Gregory mentioned in his autobiography, on the occasion of the day of his release from prison in 1990:

"Warrant Officer James Gregory So what there at the house, and I embraced him warmly. In the years did he had looked after me from Pollsmoor through Drakenstein Correctional Centre, we had never Discussed politics, but our bond to what unspoken one and I would miss his soothing presence. ( Warrant Officer James Gregory was also there and I hugged him warmly. During the years of Draken Correctional Center to Pollsmoor we had never talked about politics, but we had a good relationship and I would miss his reassuring presence. "

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

"Hey what one of the most refined warders. Well- informed and courteous with everybody. Soft spokeen.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. I developed a lot of respect for him. ) "

Criticism

Gregory's assertions were disputed by Anthony Sampson, one of Mandela's biographers. According to Sampson Gregory was just pretending to have been Mandela's friend in prison in order to make money. The close relationship to Gregory Mandela was an invention and in reality Gregory had rarely spoken to Mandela. Gregory censored the letters to the future president and thus discovered the details of Mandela's personal life, which he sold in Goodbye Bafana.

Sampson said that Mandela was thinking about suing Gregory, but did not do so after the prison administration had distanced itself from Gregory's book. He also said that other guards had told him in interviews that they suspected to be a spy for the government Gregory.

Mandela later invited Gregory to his inauguration as president, apparently because he had, as well as former President Pieter Botha and the prosecutor Percy Yutar, who had requested the death penalty for him in the Rivonia Trial, forgive him.