Robben Island: The Prison of Apartheid

Robben Island is infamous around the world for being the prison in which Nelson Mandela was locked away for 27 years of his life. The girls, Liz and I took a tour of the the Island and its prison quarters on the second day of our stay in Cape Town. Here's some facts:

+ The Island served as a prison for both political prisoners and criminals from South Africa, whom they kept separate. They suffered from torture, physical beatings and humiliation on a daily basis.

+ People with leprosy were also sent (captured and transported) to the Island to die because it was thought that leprosy was contagious. They kept men and women separate, but those who managed to form relationships and have children, would have them taken away and put up for adoption on the mainland.

+ The photo of The Cave (the small hole) is significant because it is the site where not only political prisoners were sent to work 9 hours a day in the lime fields, but it is also known as "The University." This is because this site is where they educated all who were interested in political and social justice the ideals of the anti-apartheid struggle. It also served as a parliament for the drafting of the Freedom Charter.

+ Students involved in the Soweto Uprising were sent here as well. If they were not initially killed by the police or had fled the country they were arrested. Our guide (the man in the photo) was a part of that uprising to protest against Afrikaans being used as the sole language for school instruction (which was a form of oppression to Black Africans and Coloured people) + Jacob Zuma, the current president, served 10 years on Robben Island for his participation in the anti-apartheid movement.