Every year on July 18th, International Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated to honour the life and legacy left behind by the great Nelson Mandela. He was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first democratic president in his country. This day is observed all over the world to urge communities and organisations to make transformations that impact everyone positively. These changes are influenced by Mandela’s valuable principles to make the world a better place. Today is when you take responsible actions and motivate others, just as Mandela did. This year, you can also take a virtual tour of Robben Island Prison Tour, South Africa, to celebrate it.
On This Nelson Mandela Day, Virtually Tour The Robben Island Prison
Did you Know? @robben_island, which features iconic structures such as the maximum-security prison where Nelson Mandela was detained for 27 years, was declared in 1999 as the Unesco World heritage site. Book a tour #FreedomMonth2024 at https://t.co/Z24YlfKr1Z pic.twitter.com/KOLb1Nsf6A
— Dept of Tourism (@Tourism_gov_za) April 26, 2024
Cape Town’s Robben Island Prison is permanently closed for prison tasks. However, the island is open for tours by ex-prisoners and is only accessible by ferry from Victoria & Albert Waterfront. To honour this year’s Nelson Mandela Day, hop on to Google Arts & Culture’s virtual tour of the Robben Island Prison.
This is the lockup where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. He stayed here for 18 years out of his 27-year imprisonment, along with the other 3000 prisoners! This virtual tour is guided by a former political prisoner and freedom fighter, Vusumsi Mcongo. It begins from the time you disembark from the ferry and step near the prison to see enormous pictures of the history of the island on the walls.
Then you walk (or move) to the iconic Robben Island prison gate, which was constructed by the prisoners themselves! It has a slogan that says “We Serve With Pride,” written in English and Afrikaans. Next, you enter the iconic prison, which was known for its impeccable security for its towers and buildings. Upon entrance, there is a tower which offers views of the ocean and Table Mountain in the far distance and the journey continues.
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About Former President’s Cell
Robben Island, the prison of Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years. Humbling…we experienced our tour via the story of Itumeleng Makwela, who was imprisoned in 1982. Below, Mr Makwela, Mandela’s cell; a view of CPT from the island. The quarry, where change was born out of horror. pic.twitter.com/1A4elEWCBM
— Kylea Potvin MD (@CourtRuling) July 14, 2023
Slowly, you move down to Section B of Robben Island Prison’s tour. Here, Mandela was in a 2×2-meter cell from 1964 to 1982, after being sentenced to prison in the Rivonia Trial. You can see the bedding provided to him on this virtual tour and see how tiny the space provided was. The rest of the space was filled with his desk and bookshelves.
Then, the virtual Robben Island Prison tour shifts to prison labour, communal areas, medical needs and so much more, explained thoroughly by Mcongo. There are videos and street view pictures you can scroll through to catch all of this prison and its exclusive pictures of Mandela.
For an amazingly detailed virtual tour, click on this link.
Happy Nelson Mandela Day!
Where: Robben Island, 7400, South Africa
Cover Image Courtesy: Flickr & Canva
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