Robben Island

The following blog post was written on the evening of the 6th of August while in Cape Town!

Today we went to Robben Island, the location of the maximum security prison was Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held.

Prior to being used as a prison facility starting in the 1960’s, the island was used as a leper colony for Cape area lepers. Over 1500 people died of leprosy on the island, although only 300 burial markers remain. When building the prison the graves were ignored or knocked over, the prison sitting on top of the majority of where the cemetery existed at one time.

On the island we also saw the limestone quarry where Nelson Mandela and others were forced to do hard labor, crushing the stones that were used to make the roads on the island. After their release it was discovered that the in the quarry prisoners were often able to communicate more easily than other places about political issues, making the quarry the location of much of the ANC movements leadership discussions in the 70’s and 80’s. Prison guards watched the men working from above and their conversations could not be heard over the sound of the rocks being smacked. Unfortunately, many of the men (including Mandela) who worked in the limestone quarry currently experience eye problems after experiencing the sun hitting the glaringly white rocks all day. The crushed rock powder was also damaging to the men’s lungs.

It should also be noted that prison guards were frequently rotated and were on duty at the Robben Island prison for 6 months to 2 years. They were not allowed to work on the island longer due to the fear that the political prisoners might be able to alter their thinking.

Part of the tour also took us inside of the prison and to the cell where Nelson Mandela spent over 18 years of his life. The 2 meter by 2 meter square cell was shockingly small. For many years he slept on a mat on the ground of the cell, until her received a bed in 1974. It should also be noted that all of the tour guides at the prison were former prisoners; our guide was held at Robben Island as a political prisoner sentenced due to sabotage charges. He discussed the stress on education that the older prisoners placed on the younger prisoners and explained that, since he was only 19 when he arrived on the island, he continued his education while in prison.

The island also provided us an incredible view of Table Mountain!