Maximum Security Prison is an inactive prison at

Robben Island Robben Island ( af, Robbeneiland) is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town, South Africa. It takes its name from the Dutch word for seals (''robben''), hence the Dutch/Afrik ...

in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometers (4.3 mi) west of the coast of

Bloubergstrand Bloubergstrand is a seaside suburb of the City of Cape Town, South Africa, along the shores of Table Bay, due north of the city centre of Cape Town. The name Bloubergstrand literally means "blue mountain beach" in Afrikaans, and is derived fr ...

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It is prominent because Nobel Laureate and former

President of South Africa The president of South Africa is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of South Africa. The president heads the executive branch of the Government of South Africa and is the commander-in-chief of the South African Nationa ...

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

was imprisoned there for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

. After that, three former inmates of this prison

Kgalema Motlanthe Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe (; born 19 July 1949) is a South African politician who was South Africa's third president of South Africa, president between 25 September 2008 and 9 May 2009, following Thabo Mbeki's resignation. Thereafter, he was depu ...

, and

Jacob Zuma Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan name Msholozi, and was a former anti-aparth ...

have gone on to become President of South Africa. It is a South African National Heritage Site as well as a

UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

History

Beginning in 1961, Maximum Security Prison was used by the

South African government The Republic of South Africa is a parliamentary republic with three-tier system of government and an independent judiciary, operating in a parliamentary system. Legislative authority is held by the Parliament of South Africa. Executive authority ...

for political prisoners and convicted criminals. The maximum security prison for political prisoners closed in 1991 and the medium security prison for criminal prisoners was closed five years later in 1996.Chronology
, Robben Island Museum website, retrieved 8 June 2013

List of former prisoners

Neville Alexander Neville Edward Alexander (22 October 1936 – 27 August 2012) was a proponent of a multilingual South Africa and a former revolutionary who spent ten years on Robben Island as a fellow-prisoner of Nelson Mandela. Early life Alexander was born ...

, proponent of a multilingual South Africa and former revolutionary *

Autshumato Autshumato (or Autshumao; ''Herry'' or ''Harry de Strandloper'') was a Tribal chief, chief of the Khoikhoi Gorinhaikonas (or Goringhaicona) who worked as an Interpreting, interpreter for the Europeans in present-day, South Africa, Cape Town, Sout ...

(probably around 1625 – 1665), one of the first activists against colonialism, and a Robben Island prisoner from 1658 to around 1660. * Imam

Abdallah ibn Qadi Abdus Salaam Abd Allah ( ar, عبدالله, translit=ʻAbd Allāh), also spelled Abdallah, Abdellah, Abdollah, Abdullah and many others, is an Arabic name meaning "Servant of God". It is built from the Arabic words '' abd'' () and '' Allāh'' (). Although the ...

(also known as Tuan Guru), imprisoned from 1780 until 1793 for his anti-colonial activities against the Dutch. *

Dennis Brutus Dennis Vincent Brutus (28 November 1924 – 26 December 2009) was a South African activist, educator, journalist and poet best known for his campaign to have South Africa banned from the Olympic Games due to its racial policy of apartheid. ...

, former activist and poet *

Patrick Chamusso Patrick Chamusso (born in 1949 in Mozambique) is a member of the African National Congress (ANC) party of South Africa who participated in the militant actions of the organization during the apartheid era. One of three sons, Patrick came to live ...

, former activist of the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...

Laloo Chiba Ishwarlal Laloo "Isu" Chiba (5 November 1930 – 8 December 2017) was a South African politician and revolutionary. He was arrested and sentenced at the Little Rivonia Trial The Little Rivonia Trial was a South African apartheid-era court case in ...

, former accused at

Little Rivonia Trial The Little Rivonia Trial was a South African apartheid-era court case in which several members of the armed resistance organization Umkhonto we Sizwe faced charges of sabotage. The accused were: Laloo Chiba, Dave Kitson, Mac Maharaj, John Matthew ...

Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim (1 July 19376 December 2021) was a South African anti-apartheid activist of Indian origin who was a member of the African National Congress's armed wing uMkhonto we Sizwe''.'' He was tried in the Pietermaritzburg sabotag ...

, South African anti-apartheid activist of Indian-origin and member of the ANC's armed wing Umkhonto We Sizwe. *

Eddie Daniels Eddie Daniels (born October 19, 1941) is an American musician and composer. Although he is best known as a jazz clarinetist, he has also played saxophone and flute as well as classical music on clarinet. Early life, family and education Daniel ...

, anti-apartheid activist *

Jerry Ekandjo Jerry Lukiiko Ekandjo (born 17 March 1947) is a Namibian politician, former anti-apartheid activist and political prisoner. He is one of the founding members of the SWAPO Youth League and has been one of the most active internal leading members o ...

, Namibian politician * Nceba Faku, former Metro Mayor of Port Elizabeth *

Joe Gqabi Joe Nzingo Gqabi (6 April 1929 – 31 July 1981) was a South African African National Congress activist, who was the ANC's chief representative in Zimbabwe at the time of his assassination by South African Defence Force in Ashdown Park, Harare (t ...

, former ANC activist *

Harry Gwala Themba Harry Gwala (30 July 1920 – 20 June 1995) was a revolutionary leader in the African National Congress (ANC) and South African Communist Party (SACP) in South Africa. Biography Early career and activism Harry Gwala trained as a teac ...

, former ANC activist *

Nkwenkwe Nkomo Nkwenkwe Nkomo of South Africa is the group deputy chairman of Draftfcb, FCB SA, South Africa's largest marketing communication group, and chairperson of the Advertising Standards Authority (South Africa), Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ...

, South African politician activist *

Petrus Iilonga Petrus Iilonga (8 January 1947 – 11 December 2018) was a Namibian politician as well as a trade union leader and political prisoner in Robben Island. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Iilonga served as Deputy Minis ...

, Namibian trade unionist, activist and politician *

Ahmed Kathrada Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada (21 August 1929 – 28 March 2017), sometimes known by the nickname "Kathy", was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist. Kathrada's involvement in the anti-apartheid activities of the African National Con ...

, former

Rivonia Trial The Rivonia Trial took place in South Africa between 9 October 1963 and 12 June 1964, and led to the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and the others among the accused who were convicted of sabotage and sentenced to life at the Palace of Justice ...

ist and long-serving prisoner * Koesaaij, Malagasy co-leader of the ''Meermin'' slave mutiny in February, 1766 *

Langalibalele Langalibalele ( isiHlubi: meaning 'The scorching sun', also known as Mthethwa, Mdingi (c 1814 – 1889), was king of the amaHlubi, a Bantu tribe in what is the modern-day province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He was born on the eve of the ar ...

, The King of the

Hlubi people The Hlubi people or AmaHlubi are an Nguni ethnic group native to Southern Africa, with the majority of population found in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. List of AmaHlubi kings Origins The Hlubi, similar to ot ...

, one of the first activists against colonialism *

John Kenneth Malatji John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

, former activist and special forces of ANC – Tladi, Soweto *

Njongonkulu Ndungane Njongonkulu Winston Hugh Ndungane (born 2 April 1941) is a retired South African Anglican bishop and a former prisoner on Robben Island. He was the Bishop of Kimberley and Kuruman and Archbishop of Cape Town. Early life Ndungane was born in ...

, later to become Archbishop of Cape Town *

Mosiuoa Lekota Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota (born 13 August 1948) is a South African politician, who currently serves as the President and Leader of the Congress of the People since 16 December 2008. Previously as a member of the African National Congress, ...

, imprisoned in 1974, President and Leader of the Congress of the People *

Mac Maharaj Sathyandranath Ragunanan "Mac" Maharaj (born 22 April 1936 in Newcastle, Natal) is a retired South African politician affiliated with the African National Congress, academic and businessman of Indian origin. He was the official spokesperson o ...

, former accused at Little Rivonia Trial *

Makana Makana is a mountain located on northern shore of the island of Kauai, Kauai, where it rises above Limahuli Valley. ''Makana'' is a Hawaiian language term meaning gift or reward. It is often used as a person's name or as part of a name. Limahul ...

, one of the activists against colonialism *

Vusumzi Make Vusumzi L. Make (1931 – 15 April 2006) was a South African civil rights activist and lawyer. He and the American poet Maya Angelou met in 1961, lived together in Cairo, Egypt, before parting ways in 1962. He was a professor at the Univers ...

, former PAC activist *

Clarence Makwetu Clarence Mlami Makwetu (6 December 1928 – 1 April 2016) was a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, and leader of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) during the historic 1994 elections. Personal life Clarence Mlami Makwe ...

, former PAC Activist *

, African National Congress leader and former president of South Africa (first black president) * Gamzo Mandierd, activist * Jeff Masemola, the first prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in the apartheid era *

Amos Masondo Nkosiyakhe Amos Masondo (born 21 April 1953 in Louwsburg) is a South African politician, who has served as the Chairperson of South Africa's National Council of Provinces since 23 May 2019. He was the mayor of the city of Johannesburg, South Afr ...

, former Mayor of Johannesburg * Massavana, Malagasy leader of the ''Meermin'' slave mutiny in February, 1766 * Michael Matsobane, leader of Young African Religious Movement. Sentenced at Bethal in 1979; released by PW Botha in 1987. * Chief

Maqoma Jongumsobomvu Maqoma (1798–1873) was a Xhosa chief and a commander of the Xhosa forces during the Cape Frontier Wars. Born in the Right Hand House of the Xhosa Kingdom, he was the older brother of Chief Mgolombane Sandile and nephew to King Hin ...

, former chief who died on the island in 1873 *

Govan Mbeki Govan Archibald Mvuyelwa Mbeki (9 July 1910 – 30 August 2001) was a South African politician, military commander, Communist leader who served as the Secretary of Umkhonto we Sizwe, at its inception in 1961. He was also the son of Chief Sike ...

, father of former president of South Africa

Thabo Mbeki Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki KStJ (; born 18 June 1942) is a South African politician who was the second president of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, when he resigned at the request of his party, the African National Congress (ANC ...

. Govan was sentenced to life in 1963 but was released from Robben Island in 1987 by PW Botha *

Wilton Mkwayi Wilton Zimasile Mkwayi (17 December 1923 – 24 July 2004) was an African National Congress veteran and one of the first six members of Umkonto weSizwe to be sent for military training. Early life Wilton “Bri-Bri” Zimasile Mkwayi was born ...

, former accused at Little Rivonia Trial *

Andrew Mlangeni Andrew Mokete Mlangeni (6 June 192521 July 2020), also known as Percy Mokoena, Mokete Mokoena, and Rev. Mokete Mokoena, was a South African political activist and anti-apartheid campaigner who, along with Nelson Mandela and others, was imprison ...

, former Rivonia Trialist *

Johnson Mlambo Johnson Phillip Mlambo (22 February 1940 – 9 January 2021) was a South African politician from Johannesburg. Activism and political career He joined the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) at its foundation in 1959, becoming branch leader in Dave ...

, former PAC activist *

Murphy Morobe Murphy Morobe (born 2 October 1956) is a historical figure from South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. He started school in Ermelo. Morobe completed Primary School in Soweto and then went to Orlando North Secondary School and Morris Isaacson ...

, Soweto Uprising student leader *

Dikgang Moseneke Dikgang Ernest Moseneke (born 20 December 1947) is a South African judge and former Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa. Biography Moseneke was born in Pretoria and went to school there. He joined the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) at the ag ...

Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa The Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa is a judge in the Constitutional Court of South Africa and the second-highest judicial post in the South Africa, Republic of South Africa, after the Chief Justice of South Africa, Chief Justice. The post, or ...

Zephania Mothopeng Zephania Lekoame Mothopeng (10 September 1913 – 23 October 1990) was a South African political activist and member of the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC). Early life Mothopeng was born near Vrede in Free State, and he had five siblings. He w ...

, former PAC activist *

Elias Motsoaledi Elias Mathope Motsoaledi (26 July 1924 – 9 May 1994) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and one of the eight men sentenced to life imprisonment at the Rivonia Trial in July 1963 and paternal uncle to South African politician and m ...

, former Rivonia Trialist * Sayed Abdurahman Moturu, the

Prince of Madura A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

, one of Cape Town's first imams, who was exiled to the island in 1740 and died there in 1754 *

Griffiths Mxenge Griffiths Mlungisi Mxenge (27 February 1935 – 19 November 1981) was born in KwaRayi, a rural settlement outside of King Williams Town, Eastern Cape. He was a civil rights lawyer, a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and a South Af ...

, a South African Lawyer and member of the African National Congress *

Billy Nair Billy Nair (27 November 1929 – 23 October 2008) was a South African politician, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa, an anti-apartheid activist and a political prisoner in Robben Island. Nair was a long-serving political prison ...

, former Rivonia Trialist and ANC/SACP leader *

M. D. Naidoo ( ; ; pl. ; ; 1512, from Middle French , literally "my lord") is an honorific title that was used to refer to or address the eldest living brother of the king in the French royal court. It has now become the customary French title of resp ...

, a South African lawyer and member of the African National Congress *

John ya Otto Nankudhu John ya Otto Nankudhu (1933–2011, nom de guerre: ''Koshiwanda'', the surname is sometimes also spelled Nankugu) was a Namibian guerrilla, army officer and politician. He was the commander of the forces of the People's Liberation Army of Nam ...

, Namibian liberation fighter *

John Nkosi John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

Serving life but released by PW Botha in 1987 *

Samuel Sisulu Samuel Sisulu (June 1956 - June 2003) was a South African anti-apartheid activist, Soweto uprising student leader and founder of South African Freedom Organisation (SAFO). He was jailed at various prisons including Robben Island in 1978, two yea ...

Founder of South African Freedom Organisation *

Nongqawuse Nongqawuse (; ''c.'' 1841 – 1898) was the Xhosa people, Xhosa prophet whose prophecies led to a millenarianism, millenarian movement that culminated in the history of the Cape Colony from 1806 to 1870#Xhosa cattle-killing movement and famine (1 ...

, the Xhosa prophetess responsible for the Cattle Killing * Maqana Nxele, former Xhosa prophet who drowned while trying to escape *

John Nyathi Pokela John Nyathi "Poks" Pokela (1922 or 1923 – 30 June 1985) was a South African political activist and Chairman of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). Early life Born in Herschel in the Transkei region, he was educated at Healdtown Comprehens ...

, co-founder and former chairman of the PAC * Joe Seremane, former chairperson of the Democratic Alliance. *

Tokyo Sexwale Mosima Gabriel "Tokyo" Sexwale (; born 5 March 1953) is a South African businessman, politician, anti-apartheid activist, and former political prisoner. Sexwale was imprisoned on Robben Island for his anti-apartheid activities, alongside figur ...

, businessman and aspirant leader of the African National Congress *

Gaus Shikomba Gaus Shikomba (27 January 1935 - 3 November 2007) was a South West Africa Liberation Army (Swala) intelligence officer who was imprisoned on Robben Island from 1966 to 1984. Military career and imprisonment Shikomba was born in 1935 at Onashiku s ...

Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and ea ...

n politician *

Walter Sisulu Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu (18 May 1912 – 5 May 2003) was a South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress (ANC). Between terms as ANC Secretary-General (1949–1954) and ANC Deputy President (1991–1994), h ...

, former ANC Activist *

Raymond Mhlaba Raymond Mphakamisi Mhlaba (12 February 1920 – 20 February 2005) was an anti-apartheid activist, Communist and leader of the African National Congress (ANC) also as well the first premier of the Eastern Cape. Mhlaba spent 25 years of his life ...

, former ANC Activist and first former

Premier of the Eastern Cape The Premier of the Eastern Cape is the head of government of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The current Premier of the Eastern Cape is Oscar Mabuyane, a member of the African National Congress, who was elected in the 2019 election. ...

. *

Stone Sizani Phumelele Stone Sizani (born 2 March 1954) is a South African politician who was, until his resignation on 2 March 2016, a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa and the African National Congress Chief Whip. It has been reported that upon ...

, ANC Chief Whip *

Robert Sobukwe Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe (5 December 1924 – 27 February 1978) was a prominent South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and founding member of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), serving as the first president of the organization. Sobukwe w ...

, former leader of the PAC *

Seth Mazibuko Seth Mazibuko was born in Orlando, Soweto on 15 June 1960 and was the youngest member of the South African Students' Organisation that planned and led the Soweto uprising. He was arrested in July 1976 at age sixteen. Mazibuko was held in solitary ...

, youngest member of the

South African Students' Organisation The South African Students' Organisation (SASO) was a body of black South African university students who resisted apartheid through non-violent political action. The organisation was formed in 1969 under the leadership of Steve Biko and Barney P ...

that planned and led the Soweto uprising *

Steve Tshwete Steve Vukhile Tshwete (12 November 1938 in Springs, Transvaal – 26 April 2002 in Pretoria, Gauteng) was a South African politician and activist with the African National Congress. Involved in Umkhonto we Sizwe, Tshwete was imprisoned by the ap ...

, former ANC Activist *

Moses Twebe Moses Bonisile Twebe (1916–2013) was a South African politician who was a member of the ANC. He was born in King William's Town and was a close friend to Govan Mbeki. He was imprisoned on Robben Island Robben Island ( af, Robbeneiland) is a ...

, former ANC Activist *

Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo (22 August 1924 – 9 June 2017) was a Namibian anti-apartheid activist, politician and political prisoner. Ya Toivo was active in the pre-independence movement, and is one of the co-founders of the South West Afr ...

n politician * Sakaria Nashandi,

n politician *

, former president of South Africa and leader of the African National Congress * Achmad Cassiem, former leader of the

Pan-Africanist Congress The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (known as the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)) is a South African national liberation Pan-Africanism, Pan-Africanist movement that is now a political party. It was founded by an Africanist group, led by Rober ...

(PAC) and leader of the Qibla movement * Setsiba Paul Mohohlo, former APLA unit commander * Micheal Ludumo Buka, former ANC Activist *

, Former deputy president of the African National Congress and South Africa's third president since the dawn of democracy * John Aifheli Thabo, an ANC political activist * Ezra Mvuyisi Sigwela, an ANC political activist * Xolani Casper Jonas, an ANC political activist * Kwezi Nontsikelo, ANC political activist, Advisor to the Minister of Defence * Kisten Moonsamy, former Rivonia Trialist *

Dimitri Tsafendas Dimitri Tsafendas ( el, Δημήτρης Τσαφέντας; 14 January 1918 – 7 October 1999) was a Greek- Mozambican lifelong political militant and the assassin of Prime Minister of South Africa Hendrik Verwoerd on 6 September 1966.

, Greek-Mozambican lifelong political militant and the assassin of

Prime Minister of South Africa The prime minister of South Africa ( af, Eerste Minister van Suid-Afrika) was the head of government in South Africa between 1910 and 1984. History of the office The position of Prime Minister was established in 1910, when the Union of Sout ...

Hendrik Verwoerd Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (; 8 September 1901 – 6 September 1966) was a South African politician, a scholar of applied psychology and sociology, and chief editor of ''Die Transvaler'' newspaper. He is commonly regarded as the architect ...

* Stephen Dlamini, ANC activist *

Peter Mokaba Peter Mokaba, OLG (7 January 1959 – 9 June 2002) was a member of the South African parliament, deputy minister in the government of Nelson Mandela and president of the South African governing party's youth wing, the ANC Youth League. The Pe ...

, former ANC Activist *

Vejaynand Ramlakan Lieutenant General Vejaynand Indurjith Ramlakan (September 28, 1957 – August 27, 2020) was a South African military commander. A medical doctor, he served in Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress, durin ...

, former ANC Activist File:Nelson Mandela's cell-Robben Island.jpg, Nelson Mandela's prison cell File:Japhta Masemola (1963-89) (5998332162).jpg, Japhta Masemola's prison cell File:Paul Langa (1977 - 91) (5997933222).jpg, Paul Langa's prison cell File:Thami Mkhwanazi (1980 - 83) (5998332864).jpg, Thami Mkhwanazi's prison cell File:Zahkele Mdlalose (1964 - 74; 77 - 90) (5998331940).jpg, Zahkele Mdlalose's prison cell

Gallery

File:Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island (01).jpg, Prison File:Robben island (3153393075).jpg, Former prison cells and corridor File:B-Section, Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island (01).jpg, Backyard File:Dormitory, Robben Island Maximum Security Prison (01).jpg, Dormitory File:Wash basins, Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island (02).jpg, Wash basins File:Wash basins, Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island (01).jpg, Wash basins File:Communal toilets, Maximum Security Prison, Robben Island (01).jpg, Communal toilets

References

External links

Robben Island Museum

Robben Island – UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Robben Island Museum at Google Cultural Institute
{{Nelson Mandela Defunct prisons in South Africa Apartheid museums History museums in South Africa Museums in Cape Town