Robben Island

I (finally) made a trip out to Robben Island last weekend, the island that served as home to a few prisons, most famously the one that held Nelson Mandela and numerous other key political figures during the apartheid.

We took a 45-ish minute ferry out there from the Waterfront. Not only is the island perfect for a prison because it is so far from Cape Town, but it is a natural prison between of the cold temperature and strong current of the surrounding water.

It may be a prison, but it sure is pretty

The first part of the tour was a bus tour around the island. It holds, not just one, but four prisons. It started out as the prison to send murderers, rapists, etc., but political prisoners began to be sent there in the 60s and 70s. Here’s the problem though: the criminals and political prisoners were jailed in the same prison originally. Those criminals in for less severe crimes would be released…after having been politicized by the anti-apartheid politicians and activists. Eventually the apartheid government brightened up and created a separate, high-security prison for the political prisoners.

Robben Island Primary School. I think there are about 25 students. Yikes!

Prison that held the first president of PAC, Robert Sobukwe

Next, we went on the tour of the main prison. Coolest part: all the tour guides in the prison are former prisoners. My guide was arrested when he was 17 for taking part in the Soweto Uprisings. Needless to say, he was super interesting.

Our guide, with the two mats prisoners were given to sleep on

So we got a tour of the prison. There were different sections, A-G, with intensity decreasing through the alphabet. I saw Mandela’s cell, where he was jailed for most of his 27-year imprisonment. It was really interesting to see how these men functioned in this prison and managed to continue to educate themselves. Also interesting, yet unsurprising, is that depending on the prisoner’s racial category, he would receive different meals. Those labeled Indian and coloured got more/better food than blacks (comparatively).

Nelson Mandela's cell

So yes, I had a pretty decent Saturday.

Cheers!