12 kilometers outside the coast of Cape Town you find Robben Island. From the 17th to the 20th century Robben Island was used to isolate people, primarily as a prison. It was also a habitat for political activits that fought for the rights of the black people and worked for a fair and democratic country when the apartheid ruled in South Africa.
The most famous prisoner is the former ACN-leader Nelson Mandela. He was on the island in 27 years. He is best known as the first black president in South Africa.
The most famous prisoner is the former ACN-leader Nelson Mandela. He was on the island in 27 years. He is best known as the first black president in South Africa.
The island has not only been used as a prison. It was also a hospital for people with leprosy and mental illness between 1846-1931. Under the Second World War, it was a training and defense station. It was kept prisoners on the island during both of these periods.
Today it's no longer a prison on the Robben Island, but a museum that on a yearly basis has a lot of visitors. It's a popular destination for tourits visiting South Africa. Many think of Robben Island as a symbol of the price South Africa paid for freedom, and for the things Nelson Mandela did for the South African population.
Written by Siri Husby
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar