On 27 September 2025, the stones of Robben Island carried not just memories of pain, but echoes of gratitude and pride as former political prisoners reunited in a powerful act of remembrance. Led by South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Honourable. Gayton McKenzie, and Namibia’s Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Hon. Sanet Steenkamp, the gathering became a moment where the sacrifices of the past were embraced as guiding lights for the future.
Their Story
The ex-political prisoners of Robben Island are not just names in history books they are mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters who gave up years of their lives so that freedom could be born. From Autshumato, the Khoekhoen interpreter exiled in 1658, to Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Khotso Seathlolo, and Krotoa, their stories now stand immortalised in six statues unveiled during the reunion.
Alongside these statues, a Wall of Remembrance was revealed, etched with the names of 2,717 men and women once imprisoned on the island. Of the 464 living survivors, 336 were honoured with medals for their unbroken courage.
The Event/Occasion
The ceremony, months in planning, was more than a commemoration, it was a national embrace of those who bore the heaviest burdens of apartheid and colonial rule.
Minister Steenkamp captured the spirit of unity, saying:
“We pay tribute not only to your suffering but to the ideals for which you stood, freedom, equality, dignity, and humanity. These must continue to guide us.”
Minister McKenzie’s words resonated deeply:
“Today we honour the lives and memories of the people who gave up their dreams so that we can dream… You are our heroes today and for generations to come.”
The event drew dignitaries from South Africa and Namibia, including former Deputy President Baleka Mbete, Western Cape leaders, and representatives of the Association of Ex-Political Prisoners.
Community Reactions
For families of the honoured, it was a day of tears, pride, and healing. Many spoke of closure, seeing their loved ones’ sacrifices acknowledged in stone and medal. The younger generation, some visiting Robben Island for the first time, expressed awe at walking the same paths once trodden by their grandparents and heroes of liberation.
Robben Island, long a symbol of pain, has now been renewed as a place of strength and inspiration. It carries a message to future generations: the price of freedom was high, but the legacy it left is priceless.
