Mandela demanded to walk out
2010-02-11 09:55
Special Report
US President Barack Obama has called former president Nelson Mandela to mark the 20th anniversary of his release from prison.
Find out everything there is to know about Madiba.
Pretoria - While TV man Clarence Keyter was trying to deliver sensible commentary outside Victor Verster Prison, regarding an as yet unlocked prison gate, Brigadier Patrick Gillingham was keeping former president Nelson Mandela behind closed doors and away from photographers and cameramen.
"There were helicopters with news people and cameras in the air the whole day, hoping to get the first shots of Mandela in 27 years," says Gillingham, then in command of the Department of Correctional Services' management of Prisoner 46664.
"I didn't want people to see him before he walked through the gates. We had to physically keep him inside the house."
The excitement had been building since the early morning hours in Mandela's house on the prison grounds, where comrades and acquaintances were free to come and go.
Gillingham says early on that Saturday they were informed by the office of the president that Mandela would be set free on Sunday February 11, and they started to make arrangements immediately.
Crowds
"The most important thing was to control the crowds outside the prison. We wanted to keep the gates clean and prevent any incidents."
Early on Sunday morning he was already at Mandela's side in order to complete and sign the official discharge forms.
"He was like any other prisoner and we had to ensure all the paper work was completed correctly."
After a few private moments with his family, Madiba shook hands with each staff member, and thanked them all.
Mandela gave the book Higher than Hope by activist Fatima Meer to Gillingham, before telling his wife that he would not be driving through the gates in a car, but that he would be walking through the gates as a free man.
"He was friendly, polite. I realised immediately that our country was moving in a new direction," says Gillingham.
- Beeld