Prison (Mandela)

Entertainment Media
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Last week, I took these pictures on Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in jail as a political prisoner.

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The man in blue shirt was our tour guide. He was of south asian descent and was a former prisoner. His stories sent shivers up the spine.

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That’s Mandela’s cell.

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In size, about 10 by 10 feet – no sinks or toilets.

I did not know Mandela’s right hand impression had a map of Africa in it.

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Please contribute and share your knowledge of the apartheid. Thanks.

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very interesting.. :k: what were some of the stories the tourguide told u?

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So I read a little bit of history to keep up :hehe: I found the following chart quite interesting.
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btw Mandela’s cell is bigger than your room

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Bo..er..Fayz, thanks for researching the above stats.

Trust me no one could spend even an hour in that cell.

Sadzz, the tour guides locked the group in a ward-like room with bunk beds. It was claustrophobic for even 15 minutes. He said during the peak of uprising, all political prisoners and criminals were simply locked together. There were ways to prevent suicides. There was no adequate clothing and no warm clothes in winter.

Although, the prison is known for African and colored male prisoners of the apartheid, since the 1600’s, its been used for all purposes – including leprosy patients and British convicts taken to Australia. Females and whites who fought for the native rights were kept on the main land. This is a view of Cape Town from the island.

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This is sliding piece of a wall that depicts the maximum security.

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WC, you were in SA and didn't even drop us a line hey?

Haven't been to Robben Island, but just looking at it makes me wonder if I'd be able to handle it if I ever visited. Cannot believe someone could live in such a small room.

Did you tour the rest of Cape Town?

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Cat-woman, thanks for posting. I found SA very intriguing. I will be going back next year for game drives in the Kruger and Cape Agulhas to see the two shades of blue at the ocean divide.

You should visit Robben Island – it’s purely a visitors destination now – with gift shop etc – buy tickets in advance. There are homes, a clinic, tennis courts on the island, providing community living for the staff.

I was very impressed by the level of cleanliness on the streets of Cape Town. Table Mountain was a great thrill, I had clouds in my feet.

I did not know Islam was this much widespread.

There are not many places where you could go on a lion safari one day and whale watching the other.

I am thinking of a year long work assignment in SA.