In 1968, James Gregory, a white Afrikaner prison warder, is stationed at Robben Island to supervise Nelson Mandela. Because Gregory grew up in the Transkei and is fluent in Xhosa, he is tasked with spying on Mandela and censoring his communications.
Initially a supporter of apartheid who views Black South Africans as "terrorists," Gregory undergoes a deep internal shift. Years of reading Mandela’s letters and observing his unwavering dignity lead him to question his racist beliefs and the justice of the regime. Goodbye Bafana
The title "Bafana" (meaning "boys" in Xhosa) refers to Gregory’s childhood Black friend, Bafana. His early bond with Bafana is the emotional root that eventually allows him to see Mandela as a human being rather than an enemy. Cast and Production Goodbye Bafana In 1968, James Gregory, a white Afrikaner prison