Allexer Namundjembo
The late liberation hero, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, was honoured with a statue at Robben Island during the second reunion of political ex-prisoners on Saturday.
The event brought together former political prisoners from Namibia and South Africa and marked the unveiling of six statues, including Toivo ya Toivo’s, as well as the awarding of commemorative medals to ex-Robben Island prisoners.
Namibia’s delegation included speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp, and veteran politician Jerry Ekandjo.
Delivering a message on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Steenkamp described the statue as a tribute to Toivo ya Toivo’s personal sacrifice and the collective struggles of all who endured imprisonment on the island.
“Robben Island was more than just a prison. It was a school of resilience, a sanctuary of principles, and a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples across Southern Africa,” she said.
Toivo ya Toivo, who famously declared before the apartheid regime that Namibians would never accept South African rule, became a symbol of resistance and dignity.
“This profound declaration crystallised the determination of a people resolved to be free,” Steenkamp said, adding that his legacy continues to inspire generations.
Steenkamp emphasised that the statue will serve as a permanent reminder of the shared history between Namibia and South Africa.
Toivo ya Toivo, co-founder of Swapo was imprisoned on Robben Island for 16 years after the 1967–1968 trial of 38 Namibians under the Terrorism Act, linked to the 1966 Omugulugwombashe confrontation that marked the start of Namibia’s armed liberation struggle.
In total, 61 Namibian political prisoners were held on Robben Island, and nine are still alive today.
In 1966, Toivo ya Toivo, smuggled out a petition to the United Nations exposing South Africa’s illegal occupation of Namibia before his arrest.
Tried under South Africa’s Terrorism Act, he was sentenced to 20 years on Robben Island, where he was imprisoned with leaders such as former South African president Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu.
His courtroom declaration rejecting South African rule became a rallying cry for independence.
He was released in 1984, and he continued to mobilise for freedom until Namibia’s independence in 1990.
He later served as a cabinet minister and died in June 2017.
“The years endured on the island were not lost; they were years that shaped our nations and inspired generations,” she said, urging schools, cultural institutions and youth to preserve and learn from this history.
Steenkamp also paid tribute to Namibian ex-political prisoners who served time on Robben Island, including Marten Kapewasha, Sakaria Nashandi, Benjamin Ulenga, Willem Biwa, Jeremias Ekandjo, Helao Shityuwete, and Jacob Nghidinwa, among others.
Their resilience, she said, laid the foundation for Namibia’s independence.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has thanked the South African government for organising the historic Robben Island Prisoners Reunion as part of Heritage Week.
In a statement on Thursday, she paid tribute to Namibian former Robben Island prisoners and their families.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also pointed to the statue of Toivo ya Toivo, saying it symbolises his bravery and the sacrifices of all Namibians who fought against apartheid for the liberation of both Namibia and South Africa.
During apartheid, Robben Island was used as a maximum-security prison for political activists. Prisoners endured harsh conditions, long hours of hard labour in lime quarries, poor food rations, and strict racial segregation.
Robben Island severely restricted communication with the outside world, censoring letters, limiting visits, and imposing harsh punishments for resistance.
Despite this, the island became a place of political education because prisoners secretly organised lectures, debates, and discussions.
