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3 unusual facts about Robben Island


Christo Brand

He came to Robben Island, where Mandela was held, in 1978 when he was 18 years old.

Hartlaub's Gull

It breeds in large colonies, and the main traditional breeding colony for the Cape Town area is on Robben Island.

The Wilby Conspiracy

In apartheid-era South Africa, Shack Twala (played by Sidney Poitier), a black revolutionary who had served time on Robben Island, is freed by Rina van Niekerk, his Afrikaner defence attorney, because he would be a victim of retroactive legislation.


Freshlyground

The much-needed exposure from the album resulted in an invitation for the band to perform at both the Harare International Festival of the Arts and the Robben Island African Festival.

Wingfield Aerodrome

Places in the vicinity of Cape Town known to be used as airfields included Kenilworth race course, Green Point Common and Green Point cycle track, Sea Point, Robben Island, Maitland Common, Rosebank Showgrounds and Mr Young's farm near Wynberg as well as local beaches.


see also

Lionel Davis

He was arrested in 1964 and sentenced to seven years on Robben Island for conspiring to commit acts of sabotage.

Safika Holdings

Macozoma served five years as a political prisoner on Robben Island alongside Nelson Mandela and later became a prominent figure in the African National Congress (ANC) serving as a member of parliament and as a member of the ANC's executive committee.