Fee bearing image – Cape Town – 150714 – Nkutsoeu Motsau in the automated wheel chair greets Kwedi Mkhaliphi infront of the mural that was sighned by old prisoners at the Robben Island Exhibition. Senior veterans that was imprisoned together on Robben Island prison, met after years of not seeing each other. The Robben Island Museum hosted the launch of the 1995 Ex-Political Prisoners Reunion and Apartheid Exhibition. Reporter: Nicolette Dirk. Photographer: Armand Hough Fee bearing image – Cape Town – 150714 – Nkutsoeu Motsau in the automated wheel chair greets Kwedi Mkhaliphi infront of the mural that was sighned by old prisoners at the Robben Island Exhibition. Senior veterans that was imprisoned together on Robben Island prison, met after years of not seeing each other. The Robben Island Museum hosted the launch of the 1995 Ex-Political Prisoners Reunion and Apartheid Exhibition. Reporter: Nicolette Dirk. Photographer: Armand Hough
Nicolette Dirk
FORMER political prisoners held an emotional reunion at the Robben Island Museum yesterday, 20 years after they celebrated their freedom on Robben Island itself.
Hundreds came together at the museum, at the V&A Waterfront, to reminisce and catch up since their last reunion two decades ago.
The first reunion was held on February 11, 1995, which marked five years of Nelson Mandela’s release after serving 27 years in prison.
The former political prisoners viewed an apartheid exhibition, a visual timeline of the struggle. The exhibition brought back memories of the struggle, the sacrifices and the dangers. It also paid homage to those who had lost their lives fighting for a free South Africa.
undefinedFormer prisoner Kwedi Mkhaliphi gave a moving account of sharing prison space with Mandela.
“Most of us met again in 1995 as a group.
“I have been thinking about the many friends who were with us during the time of the struggle. It’s such a pity that some of those friends are not here today,” he said.
Mkhaliphi, who was jailed shortly after he matriculated, said while he was imprisoned for two decades on Robben Island, he was honoured to have been imprisoned with noble people such as the late John Nyathi Pokela, Mandela and Walter Sisulu.
“Unfortunately, these people, who shared a section with me in prison, are no longer here today. This is why it is so important for me to pay tribute to them for the role they played in the struggle,” he said.
Mkhaliphi said that since the 1995 reunion nothing much had been done for the very people who fought for change.
“Ex-political prisoners do get a portion of extra pension, but besides this nothing else is happening. Nothing in the form of houses, bursaries for our children or even for our daily care,” he said.
He said these former fighters were battling.
“But we will not resort to complaining because it will betray our role in the struggle. Many of us lived on Robben Island for more than 20 years, but one thing we learnt was how to establish a way of life,” he said.
“I went to Robben Island with only a matric education, but when I left I was a university graduate. This shows that being on that island was not a big loss in our lives,” he added.
Former activist Colleen Lombard was one of a handful of female political prisoners who attended the reunion.
“I have no words. Today I just feel so overwhelmed,” she said.
nicolette.dirk@inl.co.za