History of Robben Island

People lived on Robben Island many thousands of years ago, when the sea channel between the Island and the Cape mainland was not covered with water. Since the Dutch settled in the Cape in the mid-1600s, Robben Island has been used primarily as a prison.

Many indigenous African leaders, Muslim leaders from the East Indies, Dutch and British settler soldiers and civilians, women, and anti-apartheid activists were all imprisoned on Robben Island. The most famous prisoner though was South Africa's first democratically elected President, Mr. Nelson Mandela.

Robben Island, surrounded by Great White Shark infested waters, together with the extremely cold, strong current of the Atlantic waters deterred all prisoners from making a swim to the mainland.

Today, however, Robben Island also tells us about victory over Apartheid and other human rights abuses. In the 1960’s, prisoners were allowed to arrange sporting events, political debates and other informative and educational programs. The foundational work done here eventually helped South Africa establish the cornerstones of a modern democracy. The image we have of Robben Island today is as a place of oppression, as well as a place of triumph.

In earlier years Robben Island was a training and defense station during World War II (1939-1945) and a hospital for leprosy patients, and the mentally and chronically ill (1846-1931). In the 1840s, Robben Island was chosen for a hospital because it was both secure (isolating dangerous cases) and healthy (providing a good environment for cure). During this time, political and common-law prisoners were still kept on the Island. Robben Island served as a “prison” to its hospital patients suffering from leprosy and mental illness due to the fact that no real medication was available.