Days Three and Four at Robben Island

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela

Robben Island is about 7 kilometers away from Cape Town and is accessible by ferry. Our group loaded up early on Sunday (1/24) and took off for the island. As we approached, we saw some great ocean life and were pleased to be greeted by penguins and tortoises at Robben Island.

Robben Island is a World Heritage Site and has served many different purposes, including a place to cure leprosy, a military base, and most famously, a prison. Most people who visit the island arrive by ferry, take a bus tour, and depart. We were fortunate enough to have a more in-depth experience. Neil was able to make arrangements for us to stay overnight at the island, in partnership with EducoAfrica. We stayed overnight in part of the former prison.

As we go through this program (Parks & People), I make it a point to remind the students how fortunate we are to have experiences beyond what the average tourist will encounter. From what we have been told, we are also experiencing many sites that are too cost-prohibitive for many South Africans.  Some recent political turmoil caused the rand to drop from about 13 rand:1 USD to about 16 rand:1 USD, making for harder times in South Africa.

During the first day, we met our guide and walked part of the island. We enjoyed the wildlife and were able to go inside the desalinization plant, in which Robben Island takes ocean water and converts it to potable water. From personal experience, I wouldn’t encourage drinking the water on Robben Island, and I think others in the group would agree with me. We also learned that there are employees who live on the island. Since the homes are part of a World Heritage Site, the families are unable to make changes to the exterior of their homes. While the homes are in decent condition now, the strict rules pose question marks for the future of Robben Island. While walking past one house, Danielle made contact with a family, who invited us into their home. After we toured, we were asked for a picture together.

We woke up early Monday the morning to watch the sunrise, but were greeted by overcast skies. Nobody was too upset though, because we saw quite a few whales swimming out in the ocean.

(Don’t look too hard for the whales, I didn’t capture them, just a nice shot of the ocean!)

After breakfast, we went on a tour of the prison. Our guide, Tom, was formerly a prisoner at Robben Island. Tom explained that criminal prisoners and political prisoners, like Nelson Mandela, were kept separate. Also, the prisoners were treated differently in accordance with skin color. The black prisoners endured the worst treatment, including shortages of food and limited prison clothing. While nobody expected the prison to be glamorous, the treatment of prisoners was horrendous. Any positive pieces of notes, like “I love you” messages, were physically cut out before the note was passed along. Tom also shared that prisoners were given a blue pill said to cure sexual desire. That blue pill permanently damaged genitalia, later ruining many relationships. Our hearts were quite heavy after the prison tour.

My role as a student affairs practitioner is unique in South Africa. Like the students, I am experiencing these things for the first time. Yet, I am hoping to help them make meaning from everything we do. Robben Island is a place we’ll never forget. For some students, the experience was heavy and eye-opening, and other students didn’t feel immersed, as if they’d need to be locked into a cell to fully encapsulate the experience. Regardless, we’ll take the lessons we learned at Robben Island with us as we travel through South Africa.