Cape Town, South Africa- Robben Island 1

Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Although the Island has been the place of isolation for 500 years for those that have been exiled as criminals, lepers, and mentally ill, it is most recently remembered from 1960-91 as a home for “political prisoners” (they never used that term but rather called them “criminals”). The most well known is Nelson Mandela for his 27 years in captivity for speaking out against the apartheid (“apartness” in the language of Afrikaans), racial segregation, system. Segregation which began in early 1900’s became much worse in the 1950’s when neighborhoods were separated, and Blacks were moved out of the city (i.e., District 6 where 60,000 Blacks were moved out to make it more White). Later, many of those that spoke out were “convicted” and sent to Robben Island. Thank God it has been a museum since 1997 to tell the story and preserve history.

Robben Island was a maximum-security standalone prison that existed for many years but mostly built up around WWII between 1931-60 when the Island was an Army/Navy base. During this military period, the Island was not used as a prison but used to protect Allied interests up to 1945. Even then, racial segregation remained, as Black people were housed in separate inferior accommodations, while White male soldiers and engineers lived in the southern region of the Island in barracks in the village. The Department of Prisons took over the Island in 1961, dismantled some of the guns and established the infamous Maximum-Security Prison which is what the Island is mostly known for today.

Interestingly, the quote (no one knows who said it) that fits this situation where the world just watched is: “Evil can only flourish if a few good people do nothing”. Mr. Mandela’s (as everyone on the Island refers to him out of respect) story is one of triumph of the human spirit over adversity, suffering and injustice. South Africa is an example that there is hope and things can always change. UBUNTU is a term used to mean HUMANITY. Hear Mr. Mandela’s description here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Experience_u…

As we learned from the passionate guide that provided us with the orientation of the Island, “this was never about South Africa, never about apartheid, and never about racism”! It was more about the process of breaking down a people, dividing them in order to conquer them, and making them fight amongst themselves. This is what happened with the Blacks of South Africa, who despite their being a majority in the population (80% of the people in SA were Black), they could not coordinate an effort to fight apartheid. It was about controlling their minds, indoctrinating an entire Nation, making them feel inferior, controlling the media to be fearful of Blacks and controlling the education system to get out false information on why apartheid was good for the people. Does this sound like a model from Nazi Germany and many other current breakdowns of civilization in our world? Yes, which is why we are told it’s not a Black/White racism issue.

Our first guide (who had traveled with Mandela and had interesting anecdotes to tell) took us to the ferry for the hour trip to the Island. Our guide once we got there was very knowledgeable, and you could tell that telling this story was his mission, and so important to him that everyone should know what happened during this time. After an overview of this secluded Island, we were driven around the Island to see the port of entry, the quarry where the prisoners worked, the airport, the hospital, the town that built up to support the prison (churches and homes), how they got food and utilities there and then we arrived at The Prison. We had an hour of “personal time” in the Prison with Itumeleng Makwela, a former political prisoner that was here during end of the years of Mandela’s stay (DON’T MISS OUR VIDEO … see link https://youtu.be/v2PJi-TJz14).Meer informatie