At the end of Quay 5 on Jetty 1 in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is the embarkation building for prisoners sent to Robben Island. This transit building was used by the Robben Island Maximum Security Prison from 1962.

Political and commonlaw prisoners, warders, their families and other visitors passed through this site.

In the 1970's the zinc and iron building was demolished and the current brick building was erected.

All political prisoners were released by 1991 and the common-l.a.w. prison was closed in 1996.

Robben Island Embarkation Building (photo: Public domain)

To the waiting room, Robben Island Embarkation Building (photo: QVRP, Creative Commons license)

Dias - the ship was used to transport prisoners. (photo: QVRP, Creative Commons license)

Coordinates:

• Decimal degrees: -33.904252 (Latitude) 18.421259 (Longitude)
• Degrees, Minutes & Seconds: S33 54 15 (Latitude) E18 25 16 (Longitude)
• GPS: S 33 54.255 (Latitude) E 18 25.276 (Longitude)
• UTM: 34S 261561 (X) 6245466 (Y)

Holding area for prisoners, Robben Island Embarkation Building (photo: QVRP, Creative Commons license)

Holding area for prisoners, Robben Island Embarkation Building (photo: QVRP, Creative Commons license)

... also in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Sources:

• QVRP. 2012. Dias, Holding area for prisoners, Robben Island Embarkation Building, To the waiting room. QVRP.