Imprisonment OVERVIEW

Robben Island is renowned for its use as a Maximum Security Prison (MSP) during the Apartheid era of South Africa’s history yet less is known of the Island’s use as a prison in the period preceding this and dating back 500 years. Criminal and political prisoners were sent to the Island during Colonial and Apartheid rule of South Africa.

IMPRISONMENT

1615 - 1657

The criminal prisoners were mainly used as the work force required for the many activities that the Island was used for. Some of these criminals served as gardeners and servants for the Dutch and British settlers posted to the Island. During the period of colonialism, the criminal prisoners included English and Dutch convicts sent to work on the establishment of the Cape settlement. The first criminal prisoners to be sent to the Island in 1615 where 10 English convicts who were attacked by the Khoikhoi in the Cape where they were initially placed. Their leader, John Cross managed to get them transported to the Island as a safer place. In May 1657, exiles and slaves were sent to the Island to cut and prepare white stone that was found on the Island.

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IMPRISONMENT

1658 - 1660

The first political prisoners to be placed on the Island were Autshumato, the leader of the “Strandlopers” Khoikhoi and two of his companions Jan Cou and Boubo. This happened on the 10 July 1658. This indicates the use of the Island, for political prisoners dates back to the time of the Dutch settlement at the Cape. The imprisonment of Autshumato and his companions was an effort to prevent dissent between the Khoikhoi and the Dutch.

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IMPRISONMENT

1682 - 1740

The Island was also used in the 1600s as a dumping ground for political dissidents and leaders of resistance to Dutch rule in the East Indies. The Prince of Macassar was the first East Indian prisoner exiled to the Island in November 1682. Sheikh Madura (also known as the Prince of Madura) was banished to Island in the 1740s for leading military resistance to Dutch expansion in the East Indies.

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IMPRISONMENT

1682 - 1728

The first prison register of the Island dates from 1728 and shows at that time there were 42 prisoners on the Island of which, 26 were European and 16 Indiaanen. The term Indiaanen was derived from the East Indian prisoners banished to the Island from 1682 onwards, but was used widely to include all non-white prisoners. Common criminals from the East Indies such as pirates, robbers, thieves and murderers were also banished to the Island.

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IMPRISONMENT

1744 - 1830

The first Muslim priests imprisoned at the Island in 1744 were Said Aloeurie and Hadjee Mattaram. They were sentenced to spend the rest of their lives, in chains, on the Island by the high courts of Batavia. It is believed that influential Muslim priests from the East Indies were imprisoned on the Island as a way of neutralising the teachings of Islam.

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IMPRISONMENT

1730 - 1879

The number of prisoners on the Island grew throughout the 18th century. Between 1730 and 1750 the number fluctuated between 40 and 60 prisoners. By 1789 the figure had risen to 134, of which 103 were Indiaanen and the majority of the 31 European prisoners were military offenders.

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IMPRISONMENT

1961 - 1991

In the 1960s and later in the 1970’s, hundreds of black men opposing .Apartheid were sent to Robben Island for their various political activities. Prisoners, representative of a wide range of liberation organisations were incarcerated on the Island.

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Imprisonment OVERVIEW

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