Robben Island

Here's a view from Robben Island, a land watered by the sweat and tears of many painful memories but the gift of this island is found in the hope it brings today. Today we took a ferry to South Africa’s historically rich Robben Island, learning about the progression of its uses and the significant landmarks that stand today.

From the year 1846 to 1931, the island was used as a hospital for the mentally ill and those with leprosy. The lepers were banished to the island because there was no known cure. Men and women were separated from one another to avoid reproduction; however, 43 children were still conceived, despite efforts. These children were taken away to the mainland and held for adoption. Doctors were not provided for the lepers because the hope was that as the people died, so would the disease. Altogether, there were 1,500 counted dead from leprosy. This picture is the leper graveyard.

The island also held prisoners, primarily political leaders who were seen as threats to the government. These prisoners were forced to endure extreme living and labor conditions, one critic explains, “Robben Island was the most inhospitable outpost of the apartheid.” The grueling prison life included communal cells and sleeping on the floor. From 1965 to 1978, prisoners worked in the Lime Quarry, chipping away limestone, which was never used for a purpose, merely as a means of torture for the prisoners. Those detained worked grueling eight hour days and were not given any sort of protective gear. Guards were stationed in this site and ordered to shoot and kill anyone who appeared to be running away. The prisoners were controlled by fear, trapped, and forced to work in brutal conditions. Nelson Mandela suffers from respiratory problems today due to his work on with the limestone. The press are often warned when using flash photography because the flash hurts the leaders whose eyes were damaged by the blinding sun reflecting off of the white rock. Also, the flecks of the limestone would block the tear ducts of the workers, causing an inability to shed tears. While the tears could not fall, the hurt was still present.

Although the circumstances seemed hopeless, there is now a encouraging perspective after the struggle the leaders faced. There are now positive terms used to refer to the prisoner conditions. The prisoners who worked in the Lime Quarry used a nearby cave for their toilet and the guards were incredibly offset by the wretched stench that the cave held that they did not dare step foot near to the cave. Thus the Lime Quarry became known as, the First Democratic Parliament because some parts of the constitution were crafted in this very cave. Another term for the prison, coined by Mandela himself, was University, for all the learning which took place, not only in the books but what the knowledge shared from one prisoner to another. Today I learned a great deal about Robben Island but I understand that it is not a monument of trial and suffering but, instead, a layered history that demonstrates wisdom, courage, determination, and a new South Africa.
Here are some additional memorials that show further history of this island.

Good Shepherd Church, which was the church for the lepers.

Garrison church-The oldest building on the island, build by Irishmen who took care of the lepers because they knew about the disease. There is both an old and new tradition in this church. In the past, there was a childbirth tradition where any time a new baby was born; a flag was flown atop the church, displaying blue for a boy and pink for a girl. Today, the church stands as a wedding venue for couples on Valentine’s Day.

The primary school on the island.

The Island lighthouse, the third oldest in South Africa,a unique because it does not rotate, instead it flickers.

And of course the view of Table Mountain, which was covered in the tablecloth of clouds that day.

All My Love,
Gennavieve