Continuing and extending resistance and struggle: The role of Robben Island 1963-1976
Date
1994-10-17
Authors
Buntman, Fran
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Abstract
Resistance and anti-apartheid politics in South African are
generally considered to have been greatly diminished in the
aftermath of the Sharpeville Massacre of 1960 and the Soweto
and student uprisings from June 16, 1976. One useful way of
thinking about Robben Island' from 1963-1976 is in light of
these dark days of struggle. On the one hand, the emergence
of Robben Island as a political prison was a consequence of
state power and repression, and the ability of the National
Party government to suppress most of the opposition in the
country. On the other hand, Robben Island was an important
area where resistance against oppression and struggles against
apartheid were both continued and extended, often under the
most difficult conditions.
The idea that a serious and intense political struggle against
apartheid and its attendant racism, brutality and inhumanity
continued on Robben Island prison is the argument framing this
paper. It is necessary to begin by looking at the broader
political context of the 1960s. One can then elaborate on the
nature of the political prison, and the responses to it.
Description
African Studies Seminar series. Paper presented 17 October, 1994
Keywords
Robben Island (South Africa). History, Prisons. South Africa