With the country continuing to mark Heritage Month, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie will lead a reunion of former political prisoners from South Africa and Namibia.
“Held under the theme ‘Reuniting with Robben Island as the Stronghold that Fortified Our Resistance to Achieve Our Freedom,’ this symbolic gathering represents a profound moment of remembrance, healing, and national reflection.
"It brings together former political prisoners from
The reunion is set to be held at the Robben Island Museum in the Western Cape on Saturday, 27 September 2025.
The ceremony which will be held in partnership with the Association for Ex-Political Prisoners (AEPP) and the Robben Island Museum (RIM), will serve as a symbolic homecoming for many who endured incarceration on the island.
As part of the day’s programme:
• All ex-political prisoners who were incarcerated at Robben Island, including those from Namibia, will be awarded commemorative medals in recognition of their sacrifice.
• A Wall of Names honouring all former prisoners will be officially unveiled.
• Statues of some iconic figures will be inaugurated, serving as enduring symbols of their bravery and ensuring their legacy is permanently etched into the nation’s collective memory.
“Taking place during Heritage Month, the reunion underscores Robben Island’s continued importance as a UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation] World Heritage Site and a living monument of resilience, unity, and hope for present and future generations,” said the ministry.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture officially launched Heritage Month 2025 under the theme: 'Reimagine our Heritage Institutions for a New Era'.
READ | SA steps into Heritage Month
The theme reflects a shift from heritage institutions being custodians of memory to serving as platforms for innovation, inclusion and community development. -SAnews.gov.za
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