Correctional Services Minister Sibusiso Ndebele, together with affected families, today (22 March 2013) symbolically released 12 fallen political prisoners from Robben Island.
Addressing the families, and other stakeholders, at the symbolic release ceremony on Robben Island today, Minister Ndebele said: “Yesterday (21 March 2013), South Africa commemorated Human Rights Day. President Jacob Zuma led the national Human Rights Day commemoration at Mbekweni Township in Paarl, here in Cape Town.
The origin of Human Rights Day is the Sharpeville Massacre that took place on the 21st of March 1960, in which more than 60 people were tragically killed by the apartheid state. The democratic state designated the 21st of March annually as a national day for affirming the human rights culture enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic, and to ensure that the country never again experiences gross human rights violations by a government as happened in Sharpeville and other areas.
“Next year (2014), our country will commemorate 20 years of democracy. The Constitution obliges us to ‘honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land’. As part of efforts to honour up to 12 political prisoners who died on Robben Island, and who are believed to have been buried at the Stikland Cemetery in Bellville, over the past four years Robben Island Museum (RIM) has been working closely with family members and various authorities.
Since 2009, the families had been conducting pilgrimages to Robben Island, and to the Stikland cemetery, to reconnect spiritually with the deceased. Many had expressed the need to exhume the remains of their loved ones, which have been a mystery for more than 40 years.
“Following extensive digging, archaeologists reported back in February 2011 that they had not been able to successfully locate, and positively identify, any of the remains for exhumation purposes. The parties then decided to explore alternative mechanisms to honour political prisoners, who died during incarceration on Robben Island.
On 23rd January 2013, a spiritual repatriation workshop was held, in Bhisho in the Eastern Cape, where the families agreed to conduct a ritual on Robben Island, and Stikland cemetery, as part of preparations for the spiritual repatriation. In African culture, when someone dies in a foreign land their spirit should be returned to their place of birth. It is against this background that the spiritual repatriation ritual is taking place.
The fetching, and symbolic repatriation, of the spirits forms part of a body of knowledge of African thoughts about incarceration. This includes the cleansing of the returning ex-offender, so that the bad experiences of prison can be removed from the new life of the ex-offender. It allows the ex-offender to start his post-prison life on a clean slate.
“Therefore, today, we acknowledge the tremendous sacrifices made by the many men, and women, who gave their lives for their vision of a democratic South Africa. We are privileged to be a part of this process of reconciliation. As Minister of Correctional Services, it is, indeed an honour to officially perform the symbolic release from Robben Island of the following twelve fallen prisoners. Their names and prison numbers are:
- Jimmy Simon - 10/63;
- Zincwasile Mvalwana - 271/64;
- Sipho Khalipha - 426/64;
- Mountain Langben - 297/64;
- Marthiens Batyi - 107/63;
- Frank Mani - 55/65;
- John Poni - 81/65;
- Mlungisi Mqalu - 869/64;
- Reuben Maliwa - 34/66;
- Solomon Makisi - 85/65;
- Charlie Mkele - 58/65; and
- Lameki Kula - 126/63.
“May their souls rest in peace! May this symbolic release ceremony today serve to inform the entire nation about the first steps towards the symbolic closure, of this painful chapter, that was endured by these family members for more than 40 years.
“Robben Island is a symbol of the brutality of South Africa's apartheid past, and of the immense courage of those who fought for the country’s freedom. It is a pivotal beacon in the history of South Africa, and was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999.
“For the many freedom fighters who were imprisoned here, including King Makhanda Nxele, President Nelson Mandela, and Pan Africanist Congress leader Robert Sobukwe who was housed here in solitary confinement, Robben Island holds less mystery, and more torrid memories, of brutality, isolation and victimisation.
“During my imprisonment of ten years on the island, from 1977, life without seeing our loved ones for years on end was severe. It was agonising for our families. But the island is remembered, just as much, as the site where anti-apartheid activists honed their principles of non-racialism and human rights, where they educated themselves - and their prison warders - and strengthened their resolve to attain freedom.
“As African National Congress (ANC) stalwart, and former Robben Islander, Ahmed Kathrada remarked around the time of President Mandela's release from prison: ‘While we will not forget the brutality of apartheid, we will not want Robben Island to be a monument to our hardship and suffering.
We would want Robben Island to be a monument ... reflecting the triumph of the human spirit against the forces of evil. A triumph of non-racialism over bigotry and intolerance. A triumph of a new South Africa over the old.’ Kathrada's wish has been realised. Robben Island is now home to the Robben Island Museum, a national museum and monument, which displays its astounding history to the many tourists who flock here in search of more information, and understanding, about South Africa's past.
“On 15 December 2011, President Zuma officially opened a memorial museum at the C-Max Correctional Centre to honour the 134 political prisoners executed at the gallows at Pretoria Central Prison during the apartheid era. Next month, on the 10th of April, the Department of Correctional Services will honour Kgosi Mampuru II who was hanged in Pretoria Central Prison in 1883.
Correctional Services Pretoria Management Area will be renamed Kgosi Mampuru II Management Area. The event will be presided over by President Zuma. In promoting reconciliation, and restorative justice, we will also honour King Makhanda Nxele who drowned while attempting to sail out of incarceration from Robben Island. He had been incarcerated for resisting colonial encroachment in the Eastern Cape. We will honour King Dinuzulu who was incarcerated in several facilities between 1884, until he died in 1913.
“This year (2013), the Victim-Offender Dialogues will be one of our flagship programmes. On 30 January, we welcomed victims of the 1996 Worcester bombing, who arrived in Tshwane by train from Worcester, to meet the youngest bomber, Stefaans Coetzee, on 31st January at the Pretoria Central Correctional Centre.
“These sacrifices of our freedom fighters were not in vain, and we have a responsibility to demonstrate, and celebrate, that fact. Through their deeds, we are able, today, to enjoy freedom and dignity. It is against this backdrop that we honour these heroes, and heroines, of our country,” Minister Ndebele said.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
