Robben Island

**Robben Island** is an island near Cape Town in South Africa. It was a high-security prison where Nelson Mandela was held captive for 18 years of his total of 27 years in jail. He and the other political prisoners were forced to work at the limestone quarries on the island. They were not allowed to talk or do anything but work. There was also a village on the island

Robben Island is both a South African National Heritage Site as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

## List of former prisoners held at Robben Island

- Autshumato, one of the first activists against colonialism
- Dennis Brutus, former activist and poet
- Patrick Chamusso, former activist of the African National Congress
- Laloo Chiba, former accused at Little Rivonia Trial
- Eddie Daniels
- Jerry Ekandjo, Namibian politician
- Nceba Faku, former Metro Mayor of Port Elizabeth
- Petrus Iilonga, Namibian trade unionist, activist and politician
- Ahmed Kathrada, former Rivonia Trialist and long-serving prisoner
- Langalibalele, The King of the Hlubi people
- John Kenneth Malatji, former activist and special forces of ANC
- Njongonkulu Ndungane, later to become Archbishop of Cape Town
- Mosiuoa Lekota, President and Leader of the Congress of the People
- Mac Maharaj, former accused at Little Rivonia Trial
- Makana, one of the activists against colonialism
- Nelson Mandela, African National Congress leader and former President of South Africa
- Gamzo Mandierd, activist
- Jeff Masemola, the first prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in the apartheid era
- Amos Masondo, former Mayor of Johannesburg
- Michael Matsobane, leader of Young African Religious Movement
- Chief Maqoma, former chief who died on the island in 1873
- Govan Mbeki, father of former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki
- Wilton Mkwayi, former accused at Little Rivonia Trial
- Murphy Morobe, Soweto Uprising student leader
- Dikgang Moseneke, Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa
- Sayed Adurohman Moturu, Muslim exiled to the island and died there in 1754
- Griffiths Mxenge, a South African Lawyer and member of the African National Congress
- Billy Nair, former Rivonia Trialist
- M. D. Naidoo, a South African lawyer and member of the African National Congress
- John ya Otto Nankudhu, Namibian liberation fighter
- John Nkosi
- Nongqawuse, the Xhosa prophetess responsible for the Cattle Killing
- Maqana Nxele, former Xhosa prophet who drowned while trying to escape
- John Nyathi Pokela, co-founder and former chairman of the Pan Africanist Congress
- Joe Seremane, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance.
- Tokyo Sexwale, businessman
- Gaus Shikomba, Namibian politician
- Walter Sisulu, former ANC Activist
- Stone Sizani, ANC Chief Whip
- Robert Sobukwe, former leader of the PAC
- Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Namibian politician
- Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa and leader of the African National Congress
- Achmad Cassiem
- Setsiba Paul Mohohlo, former APLA unit commander
- Micheal Ludumo Buka, former ANC Activist
- Kgalema Motlanthe, South Africa's first Pedi president
- John Aifheli Thabo, an ANC political activist
- Ezra Mvuyisi Sigwela, an ANC political activist
- Oliver Tambo, African National Congress president