Robben Island

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  • Island situated in Table Bay, 7 kilometres off the coast of Cape Town, measuring approximately 3.3 kilometres long and 1.9 kilometres wide. Has predominantly been used as a place of banishment and imprisonment, particularly for political prisoners, since Dutch settlement in the seventeenth century. Three men who later became South African presidents have been imprisoned there: Nelson Mandela (1964–1982), Kgalema Motlanthe (1977–1987) and Jacob Zuma (1963–1973). Now a World Heritage Site and museum.

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Robben Island

Robben Island

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Robben Island

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Robben Island

52 Archival description results for Robben Island

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NMF_Desk_Calender_3_058

1 page of a printed desk calendar with handwritten notes covering the year of 1979. The calendar was used as a diary by Nelson Mandela while in prison and contains entries concerning matters such as visits, dreams, films, books, personal health and politics.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

Mandela’s unpublished autobiographical manuscript written on Robben Island

Electronic files (MS Word - converted to PDF and jpeg) of Nelson Mandela's original autobiography written on Robben Island. It covers his life story from birth to about 1976. It was intended that the manuscript be published to mark Mr Mandela's 60th birthday in 1978 and help draw attention to the freedom struggle. The ANC leadership decided not to publish it. It later formed the basis for Mr Mandela's autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom".

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

Himan Bernadt Collection

  • ZA COM NMAP 2009/13
  • Series
  • 1966 to 1990
Files of the legal firm Frank, Bernadt & Joffe concerning certain legal matters pertaining to its client, Mr. Nelson Mandela, between 1966 and 1990. These papers detail examples of his endeavours to secure rights for prisoners through challenging the legality of acts carried out by prison officers, his opposing of the state's attempt to have him struck off the role of attorneys, family-related matters, etc.

Bernadt, Himan

Judge Thumba Pillay Collection

  • ZA COM NMAP 2010/9
  • Series
  • 1959-01-01 - 1979-12-31
This series consists of two letters smuggled out of Robben Island in 1977. Mac Maharaj gave them to Judge Thumba Pillay of legal firm of Pillay Seedat & Co. The letters are written by Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada, both of them wishing to appoint the firm to act on their behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused contact with their attorneys, they had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation. The collection includes an envelope that Judge Pillay had posted addressed to his law firm. He did this in the event that the Security Police questioned him about how he received the letters, he would be able to prove that they were posted anonymously to him.
A second donation of Judge Thumba Pillay contains correspondence and documents (mainly copies) pertaining to the case of Mandela vs Minister of Prisons.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

Envelope

This item consists of an envelope addressed to the legal firm of Pillay Seedat & Co. For security reasons, Judge Pillay had a family member mail an empty envelope to the firm. This precaution was taken to protect Mac Maharaj and Judge Pillay in the event of an interrogation by Security Police. The Judge could then say that he had received the documents from an unknown source through the post.

Pillay, Thumba

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_1_001.jpg

This item consists of an envelope addressed to the legal firm of Pillay Seedat & Co. For security reasons, Judge Pillay had a family member mail an empty envelope to the firm. This precaution was taken to protect Mac Maharaj and Judge Pillay in the event of an interrogation by Security Police. The Judge could then say that he had received the documents from an unknown source through the post.

Pillay, Thumba

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_1_002.jpg

This item consists of an envelope addressed to the legal firm of Pillay Seedat & Co. For security reasons, Judge Pillay had a family member mail an empty envelope to the firm. This precaution was taken to protect Mac Maharaj and Judge Pillay in the event of an interrogation by Security Police. The Judge could then say that he had received the documents from an unknown source through the post.

Pillay, Thumba

Smuggled Letter - Nelson Mandela

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_001.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_002.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_003.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_004.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_005.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_006.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_007.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_008.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_009.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_2_010.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Nelson Mandela to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Mandela wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

Smuggled Letter - Ahmed Kathrada

This item consists of a letter written by Ahmed Kathrada to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Kathrada wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_3_001.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Ahmed Kathrada to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Kathrada wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

NMF_Smuggled_Letter_3_002.jpg

This item consists of a letter written by Ahmed Kathrada to the legal firm of Seedat Pillay & Co. that was smuggled out of Robben Island Prison. Kathrada wished to appoint the firm to act on his behalf in legal proceedings against the Department of Prisons. Since the authorities refused to allow him contact with his attorneys, he had to use this "illegal" method to seek legal representation.

Jacques Moreillon Collection

  • ZA COM NMAP 2012/57
  • Series
  • ca. 2004-2009
The collection consists of a report of 3 visits by Dr Jacques Moreillon as ICRC Delegate General for Africa to Robben Island (1973, 1974 and 1975) and his meetings with Nelson Mandela during and after his incarceration. It also includes a manuscript, “Moments with Madiba”; a letter to Mandela dated 25 April 2005; and a brief resume of Moreillon, dated 2009. The report and manuscript cover the period 1963-2004, focusing on 1973 onwards.

Moreillon, Jacques

Robben Island photo series

The series consists of 162 black and white digital photos of the buildings and the landscape of Robben Island, as well as portraits of Christo Brand.

Willman, Matthew

Cleaning up Robben Island for International Costal Clean-up Day, 2016.09.17, Robben Island: [Set of 12 Images]

* The week of 12- 17 September 2016 was marked Clean-up & Recycle SA week, the aim of the week is to increase awareness in South Africans of the many benefits of recycling (socially, environmentally and economically) and the importance of a litter-free environment. As part of International Coastal Clean-up Day on Saturday 17th of September, PETCO partnered with Plastics
* SA and 140 enthusiastic volunteers to clean up Robben Island in memory of Nelson Mandela.

Unknown

Attention: Col. van Aarde

  • ZA COM NMPP-PC-NMPP-PC-2009/6-NMF_Dcard_V1_035
  • Item
  • 1969-07-22

    • Part of Prison Collection

This item consists of a letter of 1 page written by Mandela to the Commanding officer of Robben Island, Colonel van Aarde requesting permission to attend the funeral of his son, Thembekile.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

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  • Cape Town

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