“The truth is that we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free, the right not to be oppressed.” Nelson Mandela
Today is a late start for us. The tour group came in late last night so I’m sure they will appreciate a slower start.
At 10:00 am we are meeting people from all over Canada. I am looking forward to that. Many are from the west. We head back to the V&A (Victoria & Albert) Waterfront and grab a coffee at Starbucks at those dang Starbucks prices. It was delicious compared to the hotel coffee machine. I really enjoyed it.
Next, is a quick lunch at the City Grill Steakhouse before boarding a ferry to Robben Island, the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.
South Africa (The Springboks) have a rich history by winning 4 rugby titles
Getting to the Island
We are fortunate to be able to make the crossing today as the weather has prevented recent groups from making the trip.
Our land guide, Nester, organized the tickets and as long as you had your passport that matched the ticket you were able to board the ferry. It’s located at the Nelson Mandela Gateway on the V&A Waterfront.
Tip – The sail can be a little rolling and for those that experience motion sickness, it’s a good idea to bring anti-nausea medication.
As we approach the island, there are huge man-made breakwaters that look like chess pieces laying on their sides or standing up. We are greeted by some sea lions, bobbing their heads in the water as the ferry is docked.
The Tour
Walking along the pier, we make our way to a bus waiting outside the gate.
The Tour – Part 1
Robben Island is much larger than expected and so a bus is required for the first part of the tour.
Robben Island is 3.3 km long and almost 2 km wide.
Our speaker/guide was incredible. He explained that this tour would be unorthodox and that he would not be following a script. Listening to this man who was a little boy during the Apartheid movement. his lived experience added so much to the tour. He brought both Shannon and I to tears along with others.
I have little knowledge of what it was like during those times, let alone the Apartheid movement and he provided insight into the pain, the oppression and the intergenerational trauma the people of South Africa experienced.
He showed us the Lime Quarry where the limestone dug up was of little value and that the entire purpose of the exercise was to break the prisoners.
He told a moving story, where he was holding his mother‘s hand as they came out of a building. She bent down and said we made history today. It was the first time she had been able to vote as a black woman.
Our guide warned us not to be complacent and look around, Apartheid is still alive and living just below the surface – even in America. Talk about thought-provoking.
Apartheid existed in South Africa from 1948-1994. The whites were the minority population and held the power. They divided the people into categories white, Bantu (Black African) coloured (mixed race) and Indo-Asian and proceeded to treat each category differently with the intent of turning people against each other.
Thoroughly drained, and we haven’t even made it to the prison yet. We disembark from the bus and watch some African penguins on the rocks and visit a gift shop of goods made by ex-prisoners.
The Tour – Part 2 – The Prison
We are dropped off at the prison where we are greeted by an ex-prisoner David Morake who spent 5 years in the prison. He was 17 at the time and was arrested for protesting.
He walked us through the prison and the deplorable conditions. He explained how the different categories of prisoners were treated differently. The food menu was an example. The Asians, for example, would get more protein than the Bantu, which would cause them to turn on each other. 
David explained how the older prisoners taught the younger ones how to speak English. The prison unofficially turned into a school. Once the world knew what was going on, he and others were released early. He dedicates his life along with others who were incarcerated on Robben Island to educating guests.
David showed us the beds they slept in, how they disposed of bathroom waste and the room where they were beaten.
It was very overwhelming and we still hadn’t made it to Mandela’s cell.
Robert Sobokwe, an anti-apartheid leader was also imprisoned at Robben Island indefinitely and died of lung cancer in 1978. He had been sentenced to 3 years, but the apartheid regime feared him so much, they passed laws to keep him behind bars.
We finally make it to David’s cell and then to Nelson Mandela’s.
What I loved about this tour is, although every single person visiting is there to see where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, the tour itself was more about education and the sharing of lived experience so that this never happens again. It was a powerful afternoon. I’m so glad that I did it.
I hugged David and thanked him for what he was doing. As I was walking away, I turned and said, I certainly hope you don’t live here, and he responded, “ Yes, I do seven days on and seven days off.” He waved goodbye. I cannot imagine returning to that hellhole.
Back on Land
We make our way to the hotel to freshen up, meet for welcome drinks at the hotel before hopping on the bus to head back to the waterfront for a group dinner.
Love the vibe of the waterfront but it can be a little pricey. There you will see street buskers and children choirs singing and dancing. You will never run out restaurants and gift shops here.
It was time for some shut-eye. Donna is emotionally exhausted from the day’s events.
Tomorrow – Table Mountain
