Robben Island, South Africa

Robben Island - Museum

South Africa

Robben Island lies 9.678 km from Table Bay Harbour and 7.03 km from Bloubergstrand. This Island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site housing a museum displaying a collection of material recording the lives and times of those who fought against apartheid.

postmarked in 2010 with two South Africa Stamps

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Since the end of the 17th century, Robben Island has been used to isolate certain people. The island was also used as a leper colony and animal quarantine station in the mid to late 1800's

It was here that future President of South Africa and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela and future South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, alongside many other political prisoners, spent decades imprisoned during the apartheid era. Current South African President Jacob Zuma was also imprisoned there for ten years.

Here is a small list of former prisoners held at Robben Island

Autshumato, one of the first freedom fighters against colonialism

Dennis Brutus, former activist and poet

Patrick Chamusso, former activist of the African National Congress

Nceba Faku, former Metro Mayor of Port Elizabeth

Mosiuoa Lekota, imprisoned in 1974, President and Leader of the Congress of the People

Nelson Mandela, African National Congress leader and former President of South Africa

Chief Maqoma, former chief who died on the island in 1873

Jeff Masemola, the first prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in the apartheid era

Amos Masondo, current Mayor of Johannesburg

John Nyathi Pokela, co-founder and former chairman of the PAC

Joe Seremane, current chairperson of the Democratic Alliance.

Robert Sobukwe, former leader of the PAC

Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa and leader of the African National Congress