Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island
Prison building | |
| |
Location in Cape Town | |
Location | Robben Island, Cape Town |
---|---|
Coordinates | 33°48′17″S 18°21′08″E / 33.804744°S 18.3523277°ECoordinates: 33°48′17″S 18°21′08″E / 33.804744°S 18.3523277°E |
Status | Inactive |
Security class | Maximum-minimum |
Opened | 1961 |
Closed | 2011 |
Managed by | South African government |
City | Cape Town |
Postal code | 7400 |
Country | South Africa |
Website |
robben-island |
Notable prisoners | |
Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe, Jacob Zuma |
Maximum Security Prison is an inactive prison at Robben Island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometers (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. It was prominent because of Nobel Laureate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of apartheid. After that, three former inmates of this prison Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe,[1] and Jacob Zuma have gone on to become President of South Africa.
It is a South African National Heritage Site as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[2][3]
History
Since 1961, Maximum Security Prison was used by the South African government for political prisoners and convicted criminals.
The maximum security prison for political prisoners closed in 1991 and the medium security prison for criminal prisoners was closed five years later in 1996.[4]
List of former prisoners
- Autshumato (probably around 1625 – 1665), one of the first activists against colonialism, and a Robben Island prisoner from 1658 to around 1660.
- 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 (political activist)
- 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
- Koesaaij, Malagasy co-leader of the Meermin slave mutiny in February, 1766
- Langalibalele, The King of the Hlubi people, one of the first activists against colonialism[5]
- John Kenneth Malatji, former activist and special forces of ANC – Tladi, Soweto
- Njongonkulu Ndungane,[6] later to become Archbishop of Cape Town
- Mosiuoa Lekota, imprisoned in 1974, 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 (first black president)
- Gamzo Mandierd, activist
- Jeff Masemola, the first prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in the apartheid era
- Amos Masondo, former Mayor of Johannesburg
- Massavana, Malagasy leader of the Meermin slave mutiny in February, 1766
- Michael Matsobane, leader of Young African Religious Movement. Sentenced at Bethal in 1979; released by PW Botha in 1987.
- Chief Maqoma, former chief who died on the island in 1873
- Govan Mbeki, father of former president of South Africa Thabo Mbeki. Govan was sentenced to life in 1963 but was released from Robben Island in 1987 by PW Botha
- 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, the Muslim Iman who was exiled on 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 and ANC/SACP leader
- M. D. Naidoo, a South African lawyer and member of the African National Congress
- John ya Otto Nankudhu, Namibian liberation fighter[7]
- John Nkosi Serving life but released by PW Botha in 1987
- Samuel Sisulu Founder of South African Freedom Organisation
- 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 PAC
- Joe Seremane, former chairperson of the Democratic Alliance.
- Tokyo Sexwale, businessman and aspirant leader of the African National Congress
- Gaus Shikomba, Namibian politician
- Walter Sisulu, former ANC Activist
- Raymond Mhlaba, former ANC Activist and first former Premier of the Eastern Cape.
- Stone Sizani, ANC Chief Whip
- Robert Sobukwe, former leader of the PAC
- Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Namibian politician
- Sakaria Nashandi, Namibian politicia
- Jacob Zuma, Former 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
- Xolani Casper Jonas, an ANC political activist
- Kwezi Nontsikelo, ANC political activist, Advisor to the Minister of Defence
- Kisten Moonsamy, former Rivonia Trialist
- Nelson Mandela's prison cell
- Japhta Masemola's prison cell
- Paul Langa's prison cell
- Thami Mkhwanazi's prison cell
- Zahkele Mdlalose's prison cell
Gallery
- Wash basins
- Wash basins
- Communal toilets
References
- ↑ "New S. Africa president sworn in". BBC News. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
- ↑ "9/2/018/0004 – Robben Island, Table Bay". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- ↑ "Robben Island". UNESCO. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- ↑ Chronology Archived 15 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine., Robben Island Museum website, retrieved 8 June 2013
- ↑ sahoboss (2011-03-16). "Hlubi Chief Langalibalele becomes one of the first Black activists to be tried and banished to Robben Island". South African History Online. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
- ↑ Sindiwe Magona (1 October 2012). From Robben Island to Bishop's Court: The Biography of Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane. David Philip. ISBN 978-0-86486-738-4.
- ↑ "John Ya Otto Nankudhu passes on". New Era. NAMPA. 22 June 2011.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island. |