Robben Island
No stay in Cape Town could be complete without a visit to Robben Island, for seventeen years the “home” of Nelson Mandela, the first president of the new SA.
The island is twelve kilometres from the mainland and only thirty metres high.
From the island Cape Town appears a long way off.
From the ferry, it appears very vulnerable to the bad weather roaring in from the South Pole. At the dock, the first view of the prison block is even worse.
The buildings were built by the prisoners, using materials they quarried themselves. The regime was obviously harsh
but the ex political prisoner who showed our group around referred continually to the prisoners’ indefatigable spirit of endurance and confidence in their eventual victory.
This was helped by the support they received from international organisations, crusading individuals and some governments.
Most of the buildings were effectively designed to be depressing but Nelson Mandela’s old and new accommodations were an optimistic sign that might is not always right.
His home for seventeen years?
His home when he visits now.
The island tours are organised to show that determined people can achieve their dreams. The histories and the buildings convey this superbly and the island is well worth the visit. No reasonable person was disappointed when the last prisoners left in 1991.
Robben Island is now inhabited by the people who work on there and some other well adjusted Africans.
A secluded but shady spot for an individual,
While the rest of the gang head for the beach,
and others rush nowhere at all.
Although enjoyable it was good to be able to leave and also to receive a welcoming wave from an old friend.
The island is twelve kilometres from the mainland and only thirty metres high.
From the island Cape Town appears a long way off.
From the ferry, it appears very vulnerable to the bad weather roaring in from the South Pole. At the dock, the first view of the prison block is even worse.
The buildings were built by the prisoners, using materials they quarried themselves. The regime was obviously harsh
but the ex political prisoner who showed our group around referred continually to the prisoners’ indefatigable spirit of endurance and confidence in their eventual victory.
This was helped by the support they received from international organisations, crusading individuals and some governments.Most of the buildings were effectively designed to be depressing but Nelson Mandela’s old and new accommodations were an optimistic sign that might is not always right.
His home for seventeen years?
His home when he visits now.The island tours are organised to show that determined people can achieve their dreams. The histories and the buildings convey this superbly and the island is well worth the visit. No reasonable person was disappointed when the last prisoners left in 1991.
Robben Island is now inhabited by the people who work on there and some other well adjusted Africans.
A secluded but shady spot for an individual,
While the rest of the gang head for the beach,
and others rush nowhere at all.Although enjoyable it was good to be able to leave and also to receive a welcoming wave from an old friend.
posted by John and Marion at
4:40 pm
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