Robben Island

Robben Island Village

Robben Island is an island near Cape Town in South Africa. It was a high-security prison where Nelson Mandela was held captive for 18 years of his total of 27 years in jail. He and the other political prisoners were forced to work at the limestone quarries on the island. They were not allowed to talk or do anything but work. There was also a village on the island

Robben Island is both a South African National Heritage Site as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[1]

List of former prisoners held at Robben Island

Former prison cells on Robben Island

Rock pile started by Nelson Mandela and added to—one rock at a time—by former prisoners returning to the island

The Muslim Moturu Kramat shrine on Robben Island

Autshumato, one of the first activists against colonialism
Dennis Brutus, former activist and poet
Patrick Chamusso, former activist of the African National Congress
Laloo Chiba, former accused at Little Rivonia Trial
Eddie Daniels
Jerry Ekandjo, Namibian politician
Nceba Faku, former Metro Mayor of Port Elizabeth
Petrus Iilonga, Namibian trade unionist, activist and politician
Ahmed Kathrada, former Rivonia Trialist and long-serving prisoner
Langalibalele, The King of the Hlubi people
John Kenneth Malatji, former activist and special forces of ANC
Njongonkulu Ndungane, later to become Archbishop of Cape Town
Mosiuoa Lekota, President and Leader of the Congress of the People
Mac Maharaj, former accused at Little Rivonia Trial
Makana, one of the activists against colonialism
Nelson Mandela, African National Congress leader and former President of South Africa
Gamzo Mandierd, activist
Jeff Masemola, the first prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in the apartheid era
Amos Masondo, former Mayor of Johannesburg
Michael Matsobane, leader of Young African Religious Movement
Chief Maqoma, former chief who died on the island in 1873
Govan Mbeki, father of former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki
Wilton Mkwayi, former accused at Little Rivonia Trial
Murphy Morobe, Soweto Uprising student leader
Dikgang Moseneke, Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa
Sayed Adurohman Moturu, Muslim exiled to the island and died there in 1754
Griffiths Mxenge, a South African Lawyer and member of the African National Congress
Billy Nair, former Rivonia Trialist
M. D. Naidoo, a South African lawyer and member of the African National Congress
John ya Otto Nankudhu, Namibian liberation fighter
John Nkosi
Nongqawuse, the Xhosa prophetess responsible for the Cattle Killing
Maqana Nxele, former Xhosa prophet who drowned while trying to escape
John Nyathi Pokela, co-founder and former chairman of the Pan Africanist Congress
Joe Seremane, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance.
Tokyo Sexwale, businessman
Gaus Shikomba, Namibian politician
Walter Sisulu, former ANC Activist
Stone Sizani, ANC Chief Whip
Robert Sobukwe, former leader of the PAC
Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Namibian politician
Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa and leader of the African National Congress
Achmad Cassiem
Setsiba Paul Mohohlo, former APLA unit commander
Micheal Ludumo Buka, former ANC Activist
Kgalema Motlanthe, South Africa's first Pedi president
John Aifheli Thabo, an ANC political activist
Ezra Mvuyisi Sigwela, an ANC political activist
Oliver Tambo, African National Congress president

Robben Island Media

Robben Island as viewed from Table Mountain towards Saldanha Bay
Dutch map of the island, from 1731
Robben Island Lighthouse / Jan van Riebeeck first set a navigation aid atop the highest point on the island. Huge bonfires were lit at night to warn ships of the rocks that surround the island. The current lighthouse was built 1864 and converted to electricity in 1938. It is the only South African lighthouse to utilise a flashing light instead of a revolving light and is visible for 24 nautical miles.
View of Table Bay from Robben Island coast
Robben island coast with a view of Table Mountain
Endangered African penguin on Robben Island, 2015
African sacred ibis on Robben Island, 2015