Today our RA’s took us to Robben Island. It’s a little hard to explain the importance of this place to the history of South African in just a few words but here goes. Originally Robben Island, about a 30 minute ferry ride from Cape Town, was used to house Individuals with mental illnesses and leprosy. Most of the houses were burned down in fear that the disease would continue to spread. Later during the times of Apartheid in South Africa, it was used to house political prisoners including Nelson Mandela.

Robben Island

On the tour we were lucky enough to meet one of the prisoners who kindly told us his story. He was 19 when he was arrested and sentenced to 18 years at Robben Island. He told us that they were tortured and any of their friends and family members who came to visit them were also interrogated and tortured. His father was shot eight times just for trying to visit him. They were forced to sleep on mats without blankets or pillows and were separated by races, blacks receiving the worst treatment. They used a chart to determined who ate what kind and amount of food.

The Mats political prisoners slept on

Race Chart

Nelson Mandela Jail cell

He told us while in jail they had the opportunity to change the minds of some of the prison guards and even befriended them after they were released from prison. One of the guards, a friend of Mandela will be present at his birthday party this winter (our summer). He told that Mandela was a leader even in the prison but that there were about 200 Mandela’s of different races fight for equality and reconciliation.  And that is why Robben Island became a museum, to remember what we are capable of, to make sure that no human ever again experiences such injustice and to reconcile with one another for a better future.

If you ever get a chance to come to Cape Town I suggest going to Robben Island it will change you. I guarantee it!

Location: Cape Town, South Africa