Long Walk to Freedom Characters

Verwoerd is a Dutch-heritage South African prime minister who becomes one of the key figures in shaping apartheid. He enacts several racist laws and frequently uses brutal methods like imprisonment to stop his political opponents, which is what leads to Mandela’s long time in jail.

Chief Buthelezi is the head of the Inkatha, an African group that violently opposes the ANC, leading to strife as Mandela and others try to arrange South Africa’s first free democratic election.

Dr. Xuma is a friend of Mandela’s family who helps Justice get a job near Johannesburg, not realizing that he and Mandela are running away from home. Dr. Xuma becomes the head of the ANC, but he resigns after the more activist wing of the party forces him out.

Evelyn Mase is a nurse who became Mandela’s first wife. Their marriage ended in divorce, in part due to how much time Mandela was devoting to political activities and to Evelyn’s increasing involvement as a Jehovah’s Witness.

Mandela’s father is a member of the Thembu royal family in South Africa. He is deposed in a political dispute and loses much of his wealth, so he sends Mandela away to live with Jongintaba.

Mandela’s mother is one of several wives of Mandela’s father, known as the Right Hand wife. She dies while Mandela is in prison, which causes Mandela to think of his past and take stock of his life.

Botha is a prime minister of South Africa who continues the policy of apartheid. He is one of the first to contemplate releasing Mandela, but he only offers to do so under unfavorable terms.

Dr. Malan is a Dutch nationalist who becomes prime minister of South Africa and lays the groundwork for apartheid.

Zindzi is one of Mandela’s daughters with Winnie. She’s named after the daughter of a Xhosa poet, and at one point, the Mandelas forge her birth certificate to allow her to visit Mandela in prison.

Zeni is one of Mandela’s daughters to goes to a boarding school in Swaziland with her sister Zindzi. She eventually marries into the Swazi royal family.

Desmond Tutu is a Nobel Peace Prize–winning anti-apartheid activist. He crosses paths with Mandela on a few occasions, like when he calls to congratulate Mandela on his release.

Madiba “Thembi” Thembekile is Mandela’s first son with Evelyn Mase. His death in a car crash while Mandela is in prison is a major tragedy of Mandela’s life.

Kathy is an Indian anti-apartheid activist whom Mandela spends time with during his imprisonment on Robben Island.

Badenhorst is a brutal commanding officer who rules Robben Island for a short period of time before being forced out, partly due to Mandela’s official complaints about him.

Colonel Willemse is a commanding officer at Robben Island who is slightly more just than Badenhorst and who meets with Mandela when he is negotiating his release.

Reverend Mabutho is a man who Mandela stays with near Johannesburg after he runs away from Jongintaba to avoid an arranged marriage.

Mr. Xhoma is a Black landowner near Johannesburg that Mandela briefly lives with after running away from Jongintaba.

Dr. Moraka is elected president of the ANC after Dr. Xuma steps down. He has the support of Mandela and other younger activists at the time.

Robert Resha is a journalist and ANC member whose comments get taken out of context to support the government’s case against Mandela.

Mac Maharaj is a prisoner on Robben Island who helps Mandela smuggle a draft of his autobiography out of prison.

George Bizos is a lawyer and friend of the Mandelas who defends Winnie in court.

Kobie Coetsee is the South African minister of justice who doesn’t support Mandela, but who nevertheless plays a role in negotiating his release.

Dr. Barnard heads a South African group similar to the CIA, and his presence at meetings about Mandela’s potential release often intimidates Mandela.

Dullah Omar is an attorney who represents Winnie.