pollsmoor prison tour

Home » Multimedia

Compiled by Michel Bega

Multimedia Editor

3 minute read

14 Sep 2024

PICTURES: Inside Pollsmoor Prison

Photographer brenton geach goes into pollsmoor prison with his camera..

The Admission Center during an oversight visit to Pollsmoor Correctional Centre on September 11, 2024 in Cape Town. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)

This week the Select Committee on Security and Justice visited Pollsmoor Correctional Services Centre to oversee the work of the Department of Correctional Services, its programmes, staffing, provincial challenges, infrastructure, fraud, overcrowding and combatting contraband.

The committee went on a walkabout of the prison, visiting selected areas including the virtual court facility, kitchen, correctional centre clinic, workshop and prison cells.

During engagements the committee expressed concerns about prison cells that were flooded with water and unoccupied cells that could be used.

PICTURES: Inside the shut Joburg Library

Read more on these topics

For more news your way.

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Download The Citizen App for IOS and Android

Click here to get The Citizen news and updates on Whatsapp.

Newsletters

Do not miss a single story. Get all the latest news in your inbox.

RELATED ARTICLES

48 hours in pictures, 22 September 2024

Snow on N3 leads to one person dying of hypothermia

Weather service issues level 8 warning for more snow as rescue efforts reach motorists stranded on N3

‘It looks like the Alps’: Snow blizzard brings chaos to KZN [VIDEOS, PICS]

Pollsmoor Prison

Visiting Hours

Information Services

The information provided on this website, including visiting hours, is for general informational purposes only. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by any hospital, healthcare facility, or institution listed. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of the information, we recommend contacting the hospital directly to confirm visiting hours or other specific details. We are not responsible for any discrepancies or outdated information

Pollsmoor Prison Visiting Hours: What You Need to Know

Pollsmoor Prison, located in Cape Town, South Africa, is one of the country’s most well-known correctional facilities. Whether you are planning a visit to see a loved one or need information for other reasons, understanding the visiting hours is crucial for ensuring a smooth experience. In this article, we’ll provide all the essential details about Pollsmoor Prison visiting hours, along with some helpful tips for your visit.

Pollsmoor Prison Visiting Hours

The visiting hours at Pollsmoor Prison are strictly regulated to maintain the safety and security of both visitors and inmates. Typically, visiting hours are divided into different time slots depending on the section of the prison you intend to visit. Here is a general guide:

• Weekdays (Monday to Friday):
• Morning Visits: 09:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Afternoon Visits: 02:00 PM – 04:00 PM
• Weekends (Saturday and Sunday):

Note: These times may vary depending on the specific section within Pollsmoor Prison. It is advisable to contact the prison directly or check their official notices for any changes or special visiting arrangements.

How to Arrange a Visit

To arrange a visit to Pollsmoor Prison, you must first make an appointment. This can typically be done by contacting the prison’s visitor center. When booking your visit, ensure you have all the necessary information, including the inmate’s details and your identification. Keep in mind that visits may be subject to availability, and it’s recommended to book well in advance.

What to Expect During Your Visit

When visiting Pollsmoor Prison, you should be prepared to adhere to strict security procedures. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Identification: All visitors must present a valid ID document upon entry.
• Dress Code: Modest and appropriate attire is required. Avoid wearing clothing that is too revealing or resembles the prison uniform.
• Personal Belongings: Only essential items are allowed during the visit. It is best to leave personal belongings like bags, cell phones, and other electronics at home or in your vehicle.
• Search Procedures: Be prepared for security checks, which may include a physical search and the use of metal detectors.

Important Considerations

Before you head to Pollsmoor Prison for your visit, consider the following:

• Children: If you plan to bring children, ensure they are supervised at all times. Some sections of the prison may have age restrictions for visitors.
• Duration: Visits are generally limited to a specific duration. Be aware of the allotted time for your visit to avoid any inconveniences.
• Behavior: Maintain respectful behavior throughout your visit. Any disruptive behavior could result in the termination of the visit.

External Resources for More Information

For the most up-to-date information about visiting Pollsmoor Prison, including any recent changes to visiting hours or procedures, you can visit the Department of Correctional Services official website here . This resource provides comprehensive details about visiting protocols, inmate services, and other relevant information.

For further details on visiting hours at various institutions, you can explore more on Pollsmoor Prison Visiting Hours for a broader understanding.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Pollsmoor Mess

• I want to go to ...
• Check-in and check-out
• About Tokai
• Accommodation
• Things To Do
• Attractions

About Pollsmoor Mess

The Pollsmoor Mess is a delightfully unusual attraction in the heart of the Mother City, Cape Town, in the Western Cape. Pollsmoor Prison is a maximum security prison that aims to rehabilitate convicted criminals. As one of their associated initiatives, the Pollsmoor Mess was started up.

This canteen serves hearty, South African favourites for the public to enjoy. The menu includes traditional hits like fish and chips, chicken curry, burgers and steaks. All of the meals are cooked by inmates or prison cooks, and served by inmates that want to participate and learn more about the service industry. This not only provides a unique experience for visitors, but benefits the inmates enormously; equipping them for a happier, more successful future.

Their orange prison uniforms are the only clue to the fact that they are inmates, as they work hard to provide a warm, inviting, professional ambience. Waiters may not accept tips.

Pollsmoor prison is situated in the pretty, leafy suburb of Tokai and is close to the newly-revamped Blue Route Shopping Mall, as well as a host of natural and tourist attractions.

Need to Know

Where Pollsmoor Prison Restaurant, Steenberg Road, Tokai, Cape Town

Telephone + 27 (0)21 700-1270

Overnight Stay nearby in Tokai , in Cape Town

Please note, business details can change. While we endeavour to ensure all information provided by the service provider is correct at the time of publication, we do not assume any liability caused by errors or changes, such as price, cost, time, and location. Please check with the provider that the activity/business is still offered as described, before making any travel plans.

Need an Update?

Send us feedback if this is your restaurant. Please let us know if anything on this page is outdated or contains inaccuracies. Note, we do not have additional information or rates. Please don't contact us, rather use the service provider's contact details provided.

Find Pollsmoor Mess in these collections

In the vicinity, hotels & other accommodation options by proximity.

* Distances shown are "as the crow flies", not driving distances. Please confirm with the establishment should driving distance be a factor in your decision.

Rustic Manor Bed & Breakfast

Rustic Manor is ideally situated in the beautiful suburb of Tokai on the border of Tokai Forest and close to the Constantiaberg Mountains. The fa...

Villa Karibu

Located in Tokai, Villa Karibu offers comfortable accommodation for up to six guests. Here guests are near to various restaurants, coffee houses ...

Tranquil Tokai

Tranquil Tokai sleeps a maximum of two adults and is situated in a quiet cul de sac of Tokai and has secure off street parking behind a gate. The...

Morningside Cottage

Set in a English garden Morningside Cottage offers 4 star b&b accommodation in five en-suite bedrooms. Enjoy tranquility and modern amenities in ...

Elephants Eye Lodge

Set in the tranquil, leafy southern suburb of Tokai, Elephants Eye Lodge offers all travelers and businessmen that home away from home feeling. T...

2 On Lismore

2 On Lismore offers self catering accommodation in Tokai in the heart of the Constantia Valley in Cape Town. From here you are close to the Const...

Situated between Constantia and the Tokai Forest, Plotsklaps offers accommodation for up to five guests. This is ideal for a family and is within...

Appleby Guest House

Appleby Guest House is nestled in the heart of the famous Constantia Wine Route and bordering the prestigious Steenberg Golf Course. Appleby Gues...

Windsor House

Windsor House offers accommodation in Tokai in the Constantia Valley. The Blue Route shopping mall is close by as well as many restaurants, natur...

Zwaanswyk 109

Zwaanswyk 109 Holiday Home in Tokai is spacious and accommodating, boasting five gorgeous en-suite rooms with enough space for ten people to stay...

Other things to do in the area

Basilico Steenberg Restaurant

Tokai is a beautiful part of Cape Town, and is full of natural beauty and fun things to see and do. The Basilico Restaurant celebrates this gorge...

Earth Fair Market

Visit Earth Fair Market and take a trip back to the good old days where food was simple and healthy and not packed with preservatives and hormone...

Norval Foundation

Celebrate the art and culture of the 20th and 21st centuries when you visit the Norval Foundation, which is particularly nearby for those staying...

Stillness Spa

The experience that Stillness Spa offers is focused on personalised treatment regimes. Therapies are carefully chosen to satisfy each individual'...

Visit the Tokai Arboretum

Through the forest and up the hill, past the old Tokai Manor Hall which was built in 1795 you will find the Tokai Arboretum, first established in...

Tokai Forest MTB Trails

Where: Tokai forest, Cape TownLevel: easy to extremeType of route: some of the toughest single track MTB trails in the countryBest: perfect throu...

Elephant's Eye Cave Hike

Start: Silvermine Nature Reserve parking area, at the end of the road as close to the dam as possible (not easy, if you get there late); your Wil...

Tokai Forest Market

The Tokai Forest in Cape Town is a lush green escape from the city buzz, situated only minutes from major malls and residential suburbs. Tall tre...

Blue Route Mall

Ideally situated in the heart of the Peninsula, at the gateway to the Constantia Wine Route, Blue Route Mall is 20kms from the Cape Town City Cen...

Noteworthy attractions

Steenberg Golf Club

The course was designed and built by one of South Africa's leading golf course architects, Peter Matkovich. The private Steenberg Golf Club is av...

Tokai Arboretum

Tokai Arboretum has been declared a National Monument and holds over 274 tree species and over 1555 different trees within its precious hectares ...

Cecilia Forest

Cecilia Forest is a beautiful part of Constantia in which to walk. There are a number of routes to choose from, the most popular of which begins ...

Dams on Table Mountain

There are five dams on top of the table top, accessible via a number of hikes up the mountain. The dams - The Woodhead, Hely-Hutchinson, De Villi...

Tokai Forest

In the heart of Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, amidst family homes and wide tree-flanked roads, is the magnificent retreat that is the Tokai Fores...

Silvermine Nature Reserve

The park straddles the mountain, from the winding Ou Kaapse Weg (Old Cape Road) on the Tokai, Constantia and Westlake side of the mountain, over ...

Constantia Valley Wine Estates

The wines produced in Constantia are recognised worldwide for being of the highest quality. For this reason, wine tastings and tours of the cella...

Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia is the oldest producing wine estate in the country and has played a pivotal role in wine for over three centuries. It was first ...

Constantia Wine Route

Rich in heritage & beauty, the Constantia Wine Route comprises of Groot Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Klein Constantia. Constantia was one of...

Accommodation convenient to Pollsmoor Mess

FIND / South Africa Accommodation / Western Cape Accommodation / Cape Town Accommodation / Southern Suburbs Accommodation / Constantia Valley Accommodation / Tokai Accommodation

Tokai as a destination

When would you like to stay? Choose dates

Number of Guests

Why book with sa-venues.com.

• Your card is safe with us; strictest card verification in the industry and we don't store card numbers.
• No airy fairy service fees; you save!
• We care. Service with integrity.
• Multiple payment methods: credit card, SID instant EFT, bank transfer.
• All Tokai property owners / managers are verified (our experience protects you from online fraud).
• Secure your booking

Restaurants

• Eastern Cape
• Garden Route
• KwaZulu Natal
• North West Province
• Northern Cape
• Western Cape

Search our comprehensive (and still growing) list of 978 restaurants whilst visiting our beautiful country.

Know of a fabulous restaurant in your suburb, city or region? Share your local knowledge and experiences with visitors and tourists: Suggest a restaurant

Destination Tokai

• By type in Tokai
• Tokai Accommodation
• Tokai Guest Houses
• Tokai Bed & Breakfast
• Tokai Self Catering
•   & Holiday Apartments & Suites
•   & Holiday Cottages & Chalets
•   & Holiday Homes & Villas
• Tokai Conferences
• Tokai Weddings
• Tokai Honeymoons
• Destinations near Tokai
• Bergvliet , Bishopscourt , Constantia , Diep River , Kirstenhof , Meadowridge , Plumstead , Westlake , Wynberg
• Resources for tourists
• Introduction to the Western Cape
• Tourist Attractions & Destinations
• Western Cape Weather and Climate
• Western Cape Maps
• Western Cape Articles (on the Blog)
• Western Cape Accommodation
• Western Cape Hotels
• Western Cape Guest Houses
• Western Cape Bed & Breakfast
• Holiday Apartments & Suites
• Holiday Cottages & Chalets
• Holiday Homes & Villas
• Western Cape Honeymoons
• Game Lodges
• Special Categories
• By Star Grading
• Western Cape Search by Map
• Cape Town Search by Map
• Western Cape Weddings
• Western Cape Conferences
• Western Cape Tours
• Tour Operators
• Tour Guides
• Package / Overnight Tours
• Day Trips and Excursions
• Self Drive Tours
• Things to Do in Western Cape
• Game Reserves
• Golf Courses
• Western Cape Hiking Trails
• Western Cape 4x4 Trails
• Restaurants & Night Life
• Wine Estates
• Health Resorts & Spas
• Backpacking
• South African Rand
• Information
• Introduction to South Africa
• Tourist Attractions
• Maps / Atlas
• South Africa Travel Blog First-hand accounts, tips and experiences in our beautiful country
• By Province
• South Africa Hotels
• Guest Houses
• Bed and Breakfast
• Self Catering
• Game Lodges / Safaris
• Search By Map
• Interests & Special Needs Pet- and wheelchair-friendly, guest farms, golf lodges, safaris, hot tubs, birding, etc
• Special Offers
• Johannesburg
• Port Elizabeth
• Kruger Park
• Cape Winelands
• Drakensberg
• Eastern Cape Hotels
• KwaZulu Natal Hotels
• Gauteng Hotels
• Mpumalanga Hotels
• Limpopo Hotels
• North West Hotels
• Free State Hotels
• Northern Cape Hotels
• Popular Searches
• Cape Town Hotels
• Garden Route Hotels
• Durban Hotels
• Johannesburg Hotels
• Proudly South African
• Adventures & Outdoor Activities
• Restaurants in South Africa
• Hiking Trails
• Botanical Gardens
• World Heritage Sites
• Made in South Africa
• Languages & Culture
• Conferences
• Contact SA-V
• Privacy Policy
• Copyright / Legal
• Terms of Use
• Establishment Login

Why book with us?

• Strictest card verification in the industry. Your card is safe with us.
• We don't store credit card details so they can't be compromised.
• Responsible travellers buy local. We're proudly South African!
• Protection from online fraud: all property owners are verified.
• Your privacy guaranteed. We won't share your contact details. Ever.
• We don't charge airy-fairy service fees; so you save!
• Want more reasons?

Let us inspire you

SA-Venues.com® has been assisting travellers with their South Africa travel plans since 1999, and is the largest, independent online travel guide for South Africa available in both English and German.

SA-Venues.com © 1999-2024. All Rights Reserved. Find and book hotels and accommodation in South Africa. Sitemap

A day in the visitors’ queue at Pollsmoor

Eight hour wait to see inmates at the prison.

Visitors arrive before 6am, sitting on the wooden benches, bundled up in blankets and beanies, warding off the icy wind. Babies as young as two months sleep soundly, held close to their mothers’ chests. Bags containing food, clothes and blankets are held protectively, to be taken to the visitors’ loved ones inside Pollsmoor Prison’s remand centre for those awaiting trial.

As the minutes tick past 7am, which is the official start for “visiting hours”, the queue begins to get restless as the gates remain firmly closed. An argument breaks out near the front as some visitors appear to have pushed into the queue. Tensions simmer down when the guards come out and begin to hand out numbers to the visitors. It is now around 8:30am and the line of people is snaking into the car park.

The toilets for visitors look dark. A woman exits, says it’s pitch black inside and stinks. “If it’s so badly managed out here, I wonder what it’s like inside?” she asks.

This question has been answered by Constitutional Court judge Edwin Cameron and his law clerks in April 2015, when they wrote about the “profoundly disturbing” conditions in Pollsmoor with its remand centre at “over 300% capacity” and its “filthy and cramped” cells. Inmates were reported to have “rashes, boils, wounds and sores” and the toilets were described as “deplorable”.

Court action was launched late last year to compel the Department of Correctional Services to resolve the problems in Pollsmoor.

Once visitors have been escorted inside the building and past metal detectors, there are more queues.

“It’s like we are their prisoners,” says an older woman who comes so regularly that she is even greeted by a guard.

She says that when she came the previous day, she didn’t even make it inside the prison as she came too late and the queue was too long. She says the guards said to those waiting outside that they’d come back and let more people in, but the guards never returned.

Everyone is searched. The guard shakes out people’s shoes and feels over clothes for any forbidden items.

“Why is it open?” the guard asks accusingly.

I’ve brought a bar of soap. The packaging is open. The guard smacks it vigorously against the side of the cubicle. There might be something hidden in the soap, she explains.

After the search, we wait. This is the official waiting section with pale green walls and long wooden benches on which visitors sit or lie. There is sickly sweet coffee pre-mixed with milk and sugar at a small tuck shop. One prisoner who is supposed to be cleaning the waiting area, continuously walks up and down, dragging a broom behind him.

A woman tells me her brother has been in the remand section since he was arrested in June last year. “Every time he goes to court, it is postponed,” she says.

A guard in a wheelchair calls out the names of about 40 inmates. About an hour later he returns and the next group of names is called.

The visitors walk through the grounds to the remand centre – an enormous face brick building surrounded by fences five metres high and guard towers.

Once inside, we are told to wait again. Visitors cram onto two benches outside the visiting room, trying to get as close as possible to the door so that they can be first inside.

When the door to the visiting room is finally opened, there is a frantic rush as visitors dash inside searching for the right face behind the glass. They know there will be barely enough time to discuss impending court dates, never mind the conditions of the inmates’ incarceration.

The visiting room is long and dimly lit, with grimy glass panes separating the inmates from the visitors. There are partitions to give some form of privacy between the visitors, but the sound of 50 or more people shouting at each other through a tiny metal grid in the glass is deafening. After what feels like barely 30 minutes, the lights are switched off. Most people know this means the end of their visiting time. In the gloom, with the only light coming from the windows on the other side of the glass where the inmates are, visitors say goodbye and slowly trickle out of the room.

The inmate I have come to visit isn’t behind the glass and I am told by a guard that “he didn’t respond” when the guards called his name. I am not the only one who is visiting a “non-responsive” inmate, and as we are left to wonder how an inmate cannot be found in a prison, the third and last group of visitors trudge into the waiting area.

It is now past 1pm and agitation and despondency is setting in amongst those still waiting for their visits.

One woman says that she has waited until 4pm to visit an inmate when the guards couldn’t find him because he was sleeping.

“I’m not leaving till I see him,” says another woman.

The guards at last locate the inmate I’ve come to visit. To hear him, I have to press my ear to the grid in the glass. When it’s my turn to speak, I need to shout directly into the grid, almost touching it with my lips. It makes what is an already awkward conversation even worse. It’s hard to make any eye contact.

The process has taken me eight hours, but now I must join another queue before the day is done. Goods that visitors have brought have to be searched before they can be handed over to the inmates. Visitors pass their containers of food, blankets and clothes through a hatch to a guard waiting in a small room, while the inmates peer through a barred gate at the other end of the room.

When I leave, there are still visitors waiting anxiously in the waiting area, hoping that the inmate they came to visit can be located.

As we walk out of the prison, a middle-aged man tells me he spent time in Pollsmoor when he was younger, and says: “I wouldn’t want my enemies to be in there.”

More about Prisons

• The rights of prisoners must be protected, even if we dislike them 19 September 2024
• Thabo Bester and hundreds of other prisoners kept in unlawful conditions, says inspectorate 18 September 2024
• Key law on prisons watchdog stuck in the pipeline 27 August 2024

Next:  Official who offered bribe for driver’s licence suspended

Previous:  Battle over electricity in East London

You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and GroundUp, and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.

Most popular

• Thabo Bester and hundreds of other prisoners kept in unlawful conditions, says inspectorate
• Eviction looms for 3,000 shackdwellers in Tshwane
• Hundreds of Limpopo villagers march to Eskom to demand an end to load reduction
• Hundreds protest in Ballito over poor living conditions

R70-million spent on four projects left unfinished in the Eastern Cape

Our answers to your questions.

• How can I check how much money I have in my savings pot?
• As a backyarder on council property, how can I access the prepaid electricity meter inside the main house, which is now empty?
• Why does my son need to write a letter explaining why he wrote matric without a study permit?
• Will the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) extensions be renewed in November 2024 or November 2025?
• How do the three-pot and two-pot systems work? How do I withdraw from my savings pot?

You might like

Philippi library remains closed more than a year after robbery and vandalism, e-hailing drivers on strike in cape town.

Spend an informative half day with Christo Brand, Nelson Mandela’s ex-warder who became a close friend of Mandela’s.

Start your journey at Jetty One located at the V and A Waterfront, the place where prisoners were registered and used to board the ferry for their perilous trip to Robben Island.

Leave the waterfront and continue past the home of former Minister of Security, Kobie Coetsee.

Travel to Pollsmoor Prison where Mandela was imprisoned from 1982 to 1988 and where Christo was in charge of the Mandela group.

Stop at the entrance to the prison before driving in and stopping outside Mandela’s cell – subject to approval on the day.

Depending on permission, continue to the house where Mandela held meetings with the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group in 1987.

Returning to the city, we will stop at Mandela’s former home in Bishopscourt and finally the City Hall where a statue of Mandela marks the place where he made his very first speech as a free man on 11th February, 1990. There is now a Nelson Mandela Exhibition in the City Hall, open to the public Tuesday to Friday.

End your journey back at the waterfront or your city hotel

• Travel Website
• Travel trade website
• Business events website
• Corporate & media website
• Welcome to South Africa
• What you need to know
• Things to do
• Places to go
• Travel deals
• Get in touch

Choose your country and language:

• South Africa

Asia Pacific

• South Korea
• Netherlands
• United Kingdom

By creating an account, I agree to the Terms of service and Privacy policy

Vibrant culture

Pollsmoor prison - ‘a tent of blue which prisoners call the sky’.

N N elson Mandela described it as, "the truth of Oscar Wilde's haunting line about the tent of blue that prisoners call the sky”.Pollsmoor Prison undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping South Africa’s history.

This is  Pollsmoor Prison

Surrounded by some of the oldest wine estates and upmarket suburbs in the city, the historic prison stands assertively in the Cape Town suburb of Tokai.

Nelson Mandela, along with comrades Walter Sisulu, Andrew Mlangeni and Raymond Mhlaba stepped on the shores of Pollsmoor in March 1982 after spending 18 years on Robben Island. Ahmed Kathrada, also an anti-apartheid activist, followed shortly and was also incarcerated. 

All the anti-apartheid activists were kept separate from each other and from the rest of the population to try and curb the spread of anti-apartheid idealism.

South Africa on social media

With our country's 2500km coastline, in South Africa you are never too far away from the sea. From our tropical East Coast all the way to the sun-scorched West Coast, there's no shortage of beaches, sights and seaside life to craft the stories, that match that sun-kissed tan. Where else in the world will you find beaches littered with legends and caves? And how many other spots on earth have two oceans that embrace - one warm and the other an icy hug? This is how we South Africa. Come journey with us. There's always more to see.

Our culture is the expression of who we are and we are united in striving to express ourselves in a multitude of ways. We make the time to understand more about our country's traditional heritage, we know that the wise old ways of our ancestors will teach us where we have come from, and will guide us on our onward journey. This is how we South Africa! Come Journey with us.

Our industry has put in place globally-benchmarked health and safety protocols to ensure that all travellers and tourism sector employees are safe. We take everyone’s safety very seriously. Therefore, we plead with all travellers to embrace the new way of travelling within the COVID-19 environment, exercising patience as we have new protocols that must be observed and practiced.

Take a sneak peek into the upcoming #UBUONTOUR 2019 Documentary highlighting Ubunifu Space's South African travel experiences in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Sun City.

With a countless number of places to see and exciting things to do in Johannesburg, everyone is bound to find entertainment to suit their tastes and their pocket. The vibrant culture and endlessly bustling hotspots are just some of the reasons why so many visitors keep coming back to the City of Gold.

With warm weather all year round, Durban, the hub of KwaZulu-Natal's leisure, business, and entertainment worlds, welcomes countless visitors to a relaxed, outdoor lifestyle where beaches barbecues, seafood and curry restaurants, clubs and upmarket accommodation establishments provide you with everything you could wish for while on your dream holiday.

From our diverse savannahs where the Big Five Roam, to tropical coastlines, deserts, mountains, and dense forest, the face of the South African landscape has many expressions. It won't be ordinary. It won't be what you expect. But it will refresh and inspire you.

South Africa has some of the most iconic and unique parks in the world, from indulgent private reserves to our Transfrontier conservation areas that spread uninterrupted across provincial and international borders.

With our country's 2500km coastline, you are never too far away from the sea in South Africa. Whether you spend lazy days sunning on our beaches or enjoying watersports our wonderfully sunny climate makes our beaches virtually impossible to resist.

We welcome you into our beautifully painted Ndebele house, our traditional Zulu mud huts, adventure-ready tents, and five-star lodges. We invite you to taste the flavors of our braais, traditional foods, and our fine dining.

South Africa is the place to feed your hunger for new adventures. Come play! But be warned you'll need more than just one day. So whether you're after a massive rush or something more chilled, you'll be spoilt for choice.

At the tip of the African Continent, the Western Cape seems dazzling with more incredible scenery, attractions and sheer diversity than many other countries. From the world-famous Table Mountain to postcard-perfect valleys along the world’s most scenic wine route, a dream coastline decorated with historic towns and all of it lodged in some of the most unique and rare plant life in the world. And then there’s Cape Town, one of the world’s favourite cities, with its

From Durban – the sun, fun and entertainment capital of KwaZulu-Natal – to a magnificent stretch of Blue Flag beaches, surf spots and bustling holiday towns along the tropical to sub-tropical east coast, it’s hard to ignore this coastal treasure. And, moving inland, the Valley of a Thousands Hills and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Drakensberg Mountains ll up holiday memories. And through all this, explore nature and go on safari like nowhere else on earth at the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, or journey into the history and culture of the mighty Zulu Kingdom.

The North West’s rugged bushveld landscape overflows with wildlife and ancient history. Be inspired by canopy tours through the Magaliesberg Mountains – once lapped by the ocean’s waves, two billion years ago – safaris in the famous Pilanesberg Game Reserve with a foundation laid by volcanic rock, or trace the origins of man back 2.5 million years at the Taung Skull discovery site. And then, we invite you to experience the hospitality of Sun City, to get spoilt at the Palace of the Lost City or thrilled at the Valley of the Waves.

South Africa’s mega province provides the backroads into some of the most unique landscapes in the world – some harsh, others spectacular, and some, simply not from this world. From the towering red sand dunes where black-maned Kalahari lions roam to the bizarre halfmens plants in the /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, and from a billion owers bursting to life every year in the dry land of the Namaqualand to the Augrabies Falls, known as “the place of great noise”. Then there’s the rich history of diamonds, the rustic beauty of the Diamond Coast, and the epic Big Hole of Kimberley.

The Free State is a place of wide open spaces and true South African hospitality to go with rich history, stories of battles, gold rushes, early man and even dinosaurs. With its endless blue skies and at bushveld plains, here the silence of nature simply screams out for adventure – whether it is safaris, rafting, 4x4, skydiving, inspiring nature hikes, the famous Orange River safaris and water sports on the Gariep and Vaal dams. But, highland- safari journeys in The Golden Gate Highlands National Park stand out from the rest with its iconic golden sandstone cliffs.

Gauteng is the golden heartbeat of South Africa, leader of innovation, growth, art, culture and everything big, bold and world class. Johannesburg, South Africa’s melting pot of culture is home to the best urban experiences, restaurants, and entertainment in the country. “Jozi” is also a famous apartheid struggle hub, with museums and the former home of Nelson Mandela to tell the story. And, just on its doorstep are exciting safari experiences, water sports and holidays on the Vaal River as well as the origin of our human story at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

The Eastern Cape is a province of great natural beauty from the ancient semi-arid Karoo, to the mighty Tsitsikamma Forest, from Blue Flag beaches to the natural wonders of the mesmerising Wild Coast. Only here can you surf the world’s biggest waves at Jeffreys Bay, go on a “Big Seven” safari (including: Great White sharks and Southern Right whales) in the enormous Addo Elephant Park, visit the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, and bungee jump off the highest bridge in the Southern Hemisphere. All, in one trip.

Welcome to South Africa’s capital city. Part of the package with any capital is a fascinating history and vibrant culture. Spend some time walking through South Africa’s history at its political heart. Visit the Union Buildings and Freedom Park; spend time in the various museums and learn more about our uniquely South African cultures or take a stroll around Church Square.

The Mpumalanga province is dominated by the Blyde River Canyon – the world's third-deepest gorge; the Sudwala Caves – the world's oldest caves; and the Kruger National Park – arguably the world's most famous wildlife sanctuary. Mpumalanga means 'the place where the sun rises', and while it may be among South Africa's smallest provinces, what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in spectacular natural diversity.

• Useful links
• Travel Trade Partners
• Business Events
• Travel trade
• Find accommodation
• Useful contacts
• Visa & entry info
• Image Library
• Digital Asset Library

Pollsmoor Prison – Honey in Our Ears

Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison, located south of Cape Town, once housed one of South Africa’s most eminent citizens: Nelson Mandela. He was moved from Robben Island to Pollsmoor in 1982, where he remained for more than six years.

Today Pollsmoor is a large prison with an inmate population of around 7,000. Some of South Africa’s most dangerous criminals are incarcerated there.

In this harsh environment, a Peace Education Program (PEP) was started in early 2013. A small but dedicated group of volunteers have run two ten-week courses with 28 inmates in each group so far. Janice Maguire was the MC for some of these workshops and had to be pushed into the prison in her wheelchair as she has Multiple Sclerosis. The class started with Janice slowly rising from her wheelchair into an upright position and welcoming everyone.

Among the attendees was Lester Parrish, 52 years old, imprisoned most of his life for stealing cars, and most recently for much more serious offences. He sat morosely at the back, locked within himself, unwilling to make contact or communicate with anyone.

Each week the attendees watched themed videos from Prem Rawat’s international addresses. They listened, and if they wished, they could express something about what they had understood or felt during these videos. Lester remained silent until the third week when he mentioned that, for the first time in years, he’d been able to sleep in his cell. There are approximately 20 to 30 men in each cell; the noise level is extremely high. “Even if nothing else happens,” he said at the time, “I’m grateful for the sleep. Something inside me was always biting me, stopping me from sleeping. But since I listened to Prem Rawat, I feel that biting is not there any more.”

A few weeks later Lester wanted to express something else. He said he’d been talking to other prisoners about the profound shift in his being from having heard Prem Rawat’s talks. Apparently, the warden had also noticed the difference in Lester, who was spending more and more time engaging with other inmates, speaking to them about their potential even in prisons. As the weeks of the course went by, he moved to the front of the class and was happy to get up and talk about his discoveries. “Whether you’re in prison for one year or twenty years, that heart is there, too. It follows you in, and it goes out with you. So why not experience it now?”

Janice and the other volunteers facilitating the course had also noticed that he even looked better. He was standing differently and was very excited about the possibility of speaking about peace both while inside prison and after he was released. On the last day of the program, Lester expressed: “Today I’m a different person. I talk about peace to anyone who wants to know. I would love to be a peace ambassador. Thank you, Mr. Rawat, for coordinating this course. You made it all possible. God bless you.”

This feeling of gratitude was shared by many of the attendees. They mentioned how touched they were that every week the volunteers came to the prison, rain or shine, and how incredibly grateful they were for their consistency.

Another inmate, Luqmaan, is a devout Muslim in his 50’s, who has taught himself to read and write in prison. He is friendly and loves helping other inmates, particularly those who are illiterate. He expressed his feelings of gratitude and that of his inmate friend Moegammad in a written document:

Janice Maguire says she and the rest of the team have been very moved by witnessing the transformation of individuals who attend the course. “What I’m hearing from the attendees is that it’s the first time in their lives that they’ve been spoken to as human beings.”

After the second PEP course, the management was keen for a follow-up to take place. The change in attitude among those who completed the PEP was more than enough reason. One of the graduates, speaking warmly of Prem Rawat and his message, expressed the feeling of the group. He said they had all become a family, a real family, and he urged everyone to do the program.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news, stories, videos, and events!

Recent Articles

Long-term Project Launched by TPRF Brings Water to Remote Villages in Morocco

Thank You for Supporting the Expanding Hope Appeal

Daya Rawat Invites You to Help Food for People Keep Expanding

Daya Rawat Invites You to Expand Hope with Food for People

Articles by Category

Guidestar and Charity Navigator give TPRF their highest rankings for transparency, financial accountability and leadership.

Die Vier Hoeke: Inside the four corners of the South African prison system

The political and conceptual context for Mikhael Subotzky’s project Die Vier Hoeke (The Four Corners)

Mikhael Subotzky

Several questions arise upon viewing the photograph taken by Mikhael Subotzky , titled ‘Jaco, Beaufort West’ (2006). In what circumstances did this image materialize? How did the artist gain access to the prison? Who is this man, lying despondent, in front of a luminous mural depicting a scene so different from the architectural reality he finds himself in? It’s an image that is both alarming and enticing. The tapestry of emotion is woven: the utopian backdrop is alive with color, richness, possibility. The figure, on the other hand, appears hapless – exhausted.

In this image, the disparity between the two colliding environments makes an astute commentary on the starkness of prison life. It demonstrates the harshness of incarceration, but also the imperative to imagine somewhere else, a utopian setting, or in this case a vivid natural landscape. But the photograph also binds the viewer to a feeling of uncertainty.

In an attempt to further understand this image, we spoke to Subotzky about his project Die Vier Hoeke (The Four Corners), the role prison photography plays in questioning who looks and how we look, and the camera’s struggle with representation.

Born in Cape Town, 1981, Subotzky has undertaken several ambitious projects in the last fifteen years. These include Die Vier Hoeke (2004) Beaufort West (2008), Retinal Shift (2012) and recently, Massive Nerve Corpus (2019). All of which, through differing approaches, question societal institutions, control, belonging, and notions of visibility. There is an enduring sense of curiosity and uncanniness when viewing his impressive body of work; a sense of raw emotion, integrity.

Die Vier Hoeke was Subotzky’s first project and described visits to a number of prisons in South Africa. After being inspired by what he described as the “humanistic nature of documentary photography”, Subotzky became interested in photographing incarceration, and crucially, in making visible what is often hidden from wider society.

“Die Vier Hoeke is part of a bigger artistic commitment to exploring the penal system, ignited by a time of judicial tension back in 2004. I became very aware of issues of representation, and the challenges of making images in a part of society where power balances are particularly skewed,” explains Subotzky, before commenting upon the contemporary political context that spurred the project onward. “In 2004, the government – many of whom had been imprisoned themselves– were trying to remove prisoners’ legal right to vote.” The ANC, the party led into power by Nelson Mandela, and at that time headed by Thabo Mbeki, was banned by the state during the apartheid era; its representatives had all experienced prosecution or exile during the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. It was these ironies in the political system, combined with disparities proceeding post-apartheid South Africa, and the extensive mass incarceration throughout the country which caught Subotzky’s interest:

“There was a constitutional court case that challenged whether the government could take away the right of certain prisoners to vote. The court case eventually reaffirmed their right. This was hugely ironic to me as many of our political leaders had spent time in prison. Our iconic president Mandela had said ‘the measure of a society is not how you treat its highest citizens, it’s how you treat its lowest ones’.”

It is from this political context that Die Vier Hoeke began. After meeting people from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Subotzky embarked upon the lengthy task of entering prisons to document the voting debate. While on holiday, he randomly met people who helped him gain access to a small rural prison to take portraits of prisoners holding up their ballot papers. He continues, “I then got in touch with the correctional service department, to get access to bigger prisons”. Subotzky was committed to making direct contact with the prisoners – not just photographing them – but also attempting to impact on their lives. After communicating with a prison officer, of “progressive thinking”, as he described, Subotzky began organizing photography rehabilitation workshops in the notoriously dangerous Cape Town prison, Pollsmoor, situated in the suburb of Tokai. He was only 24 years old at the time.

During the classes, inmates were permitted to use cameras he provided – objects usually banned from entering the prisons. Subotzky’s intervention of bringing cameras into prison for rehabilitative measures gave prisoners some liberties which had otherwise been stripped. Making interpersonal connections was his priority, beyond creating documentation. Subotzky explained, “Lots of relationships were formed then, which I still maintain today. I put the relationships first and the photographs second, as a byproduct of the engagements”.

"Lots of relationships were formed then, which I still maintain today. I put the relationships first and the photographs second, as a byproduct of the engagements"

- mikhael subotzky.

It was obvious how different the conditions were at Pollsmoor. He explained, “I was photographing cells designed for 16 people, with 80, 90 people living in them”. Designed during the apartheid era, Pollsmoor still functions as a maximum security prison today, and is still overcrowded, with some cells at 300% over capacity (as reported by CNN in 2016). Many of the photographs from Subotzky’s Die Vier Hoeke were captured there, such as the unsettling ‘Jonny Fortune bathes in the industrial washer in the laundry’ (2004). Subotzky’s first exhibition took place inside the prison, on April 17, 2005, the 11th anniversary of South Africa’s shift to democracy. “The exhibition was in Mandela’s old cell. We managed to get around 400 members of the public into a working maximum-security prison for the show.” During the exhibition, the public were confronted with the material conditions of the prison, and invited to celebrate his work alongside that of the prisoners from the workshops, in the environment the photographs derived from.

"The exhibition was in Mandela’s old cell. We managed to get around 400 members of the public into a working maximum security prison for the show."

Another set of images from Pollsmoor which leave an impression are captioned ‘Cell 33 E2 Section (1)’ and ‘Cell 33 E2 Section (3)’ (2005). In these photographs, there is an overbearing sense of claustrophobia. The viewer is struck by a sense of collective entrapment, the similarity of the prisoners’ steely expressions. In this image , the viewer is given an immediate, visual window into the extent that South Africa imprisons its citizens. The image is a fitting illustration of the country’s incarceration rates, which are the second-highest in the world per capita, after the United States: “Firstly because of the history of racism during apartheid,” Subotzky offers, “and secondly, as far back as the British colonial government, those in power have actively created a criminal underclass as a means to steal land from its rightful owners”.

"As far back as the British colonial government, those in power have actively created a criminal underclass as a means to steal land from its rightful owners"

In this socio-political climate, it would be easy for the photographer to have solely focus on the physical conditions of the prisons when making this project (which spanned 2004-06), or to contribute to the narratives on prison gang cultures which are often reported in the mainstream press. Subotzky mentions the notorious Numbers gang, for instance. Yet for him, these stories were ‘clichés’. “We have big prison gangs in South Africa” he explains “with their tattoos and mythological history. I stayed away from that because I was wary of exoticizing those stories and images. So I focused on overcrowding, everyday life – prisons as a home to these people”. In this comment, Subotzky’s intentions are laid bare: to not perpetuate the simplistic narratives about prison, and replace them with images that reflect a reality that is both nuanced and visceral.

Representation, for some creative practitioners, is a form of activism, an act which can challenge dominant imagery and question authoritative depictions of prisoners. In the Die Vier Hoeke series, we learn not just the physical reality in South Africa, but also the photographer’s impetus, drive and passion to subvert the power of imagery. “I wanted to find ways to critique photographic representations,” Subotzky explains, “but still being brave enough to make them. It is an interesting tightrope walk”.

The camera is a mechanism – Subotzky proves – that can reveal that which is hidden from view. But it also can create a sense of physical distance, and does not protect the photographer from absorbing the emotional burdens of being captured: “I did have a form of PTSD in relation to some of the things I witnessed,” Subotzky explains. It is clear that at the heart of the series there is an unwavering commitment to documenting the material conditions and lived realities of prisoners, of submerging oneself in their environments.

In 2004, Subotzky was reading Michel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish: the Birth of the Prison (1975), to understand the socio-economic and political context which has created the modern penal system since its creation in the early twentieth century. Foucault writes, “surveillance is permanent in its effects, even if it is discontinuous in its action”. For Foucault, the theory of punishment is predicated on the idea of rendering inmates invisible to wider society. To be surveyed is to be disciplined, an ideology made visually apparent in the photograph ‘Voorberg Prison Porteville, South Africa’ (2004) . Surveillance is portrayed here by the regimented, repetitive stance of the prisoners – all lined up by their beds, dressed in identical orange jumpsuits. Individuality and agency are stripped. The role of the camera as an active observer, Subotzky demonstrates, allows it to communicate the disciplinary acts of prison, however uncomfortable. “Later, as my practice developed, I reframed a number of these images in relation to the gaze and my discomfort, in a work called I Was Looking Back,” he explains, “to rethink them according to my own discomfort and ambivalence around photography and representation”.

There is a timeless quality to the Die Vier Hoeke series; the project is an interpretation of history which holds political and ethical weight in the present. In a commitment to the notion of lived experience and shared human feeling, Subotzky embarks upon the difficult task of representation with the veracity it deserves, subtly documenting the complex ethical terrain the South African prison system presents to anyone who enters, or indeed views it from afar.

On Antiracism, Resisting Fascism, and Policing in London

Magnum photographers, explore more.

Arts & Culture

Beaufort West: Rural South Africa

Die Vier Hoeke: The Four Corners

Lindokuhle Sobekwa named inaugural Kobal Fellow

In Pictures: Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom

Jean Gaumy’s Investigation Into the French Penal System

Inside a French prison

Paolo pellegrin.

Inside Guantanamo

Peter van agtmael.

• Car Rentals
• Airport Transfers
• Attractions & Tours
• Flight + Hotel
• Destinations
• Trip.com Rewards

Department Correction Service Pollsmoor Prison

In March 1982, South African President Mandela was transferred to Polsmoor Prison, where Mandela and three others were placed in a penthouse apartment with four regular beds, bed sheets and towels. At Polsmoor Prison, he wakes up at 5 a.m. and exercises in a public room for an hour and a half. The same exercise is repeated every day: running, skipping rope, sitting up, push-ups.

Department Correction Service Pollsmoor Prison Tours

Department Correction Service Pollsmoor Prison Highlights: Must-See Features and Attractions

Explore near department correction service pollsmoor prison: where to stay, eat, and visit, department correction service pollsmoor prison reviews: insider insights and visitor experiences.

One of the places to miss great people is in a scenic Cape Town area, with the Stan Tiaberg Mountains to the north and hundreds of hectares of vineyards to the south.

South Africa has many prisons, mainly for political prisoners, and some are now open for visits and browsing.

Really good. Very good place to go. The ticket service staff will be more kind to talk.

Polsmoor prison looks like a temple, but you can't go in and see, and you want to know how their prisoners live.

• Customer Support
• Service Guarantee
• More Service Info
• About Trip.com
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Statement
• About Trip.com Group

Other Services

• Investor Relations
• Affiliate Program
• List Your Property
• Become a Supplier

Pollsmoor Prison

• Copy Link copied

Some of Cape Town’s wealthiest residents and some of South Africa’s most dangerous criminals both live in the leafy green suburbs of Tokai. Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison, the place where Nelson Mandela was transferred after 18 years of imprisonment on Robben Island. He describes it in his book, Long Walk to Freedom, as “the truth of Oscar Wilde’s haunting line about the tent of blue that prisoners call the sky.” Idlanathi (“Eat with Us”) is a small restaurant at Pollsmoor which serves breakfast and lunch for visitors and staff. By learning to cook and prepare basic dishes (think bacon & egg sandwiches, fish & chips and beef burgers) inmates nearing release are provided with the opportunity to develop work experience and skills. Please note: Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison is a working prison and is not open for tours. Only those who are very open minded and seriously interested in an authentic cultural connection should visit.

More Recommendations

Inside cape town's maximum security prison.

Information on this page, including website, location, and opening hours, is subject to have changed since this page was last published. If you would like to report anything that’s inaccurate, let us know at [email protected].

• Women in Journalism
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Eastern Cape
• Bloemfontein
• Elections 2024
• All Tech News
• Traffic Report
• Lotto Results
• Bafana Bafana
• Betway Premiership
• English Premier League
• CAF Champions League
• UEFA Champions League
• Soccer World Cup 2022
• United Rugby Championship
• Super Rugby
• Rugby Championship
• Varsity Cup
• Rugby World Cup 2023
• Indian Premier League
• Cricket World Cup 2023
• Paris Olympics 2024
• Hollywoodbets Horse Racing
• Entertainment
• Art & Artists
• House of Zwide
• On this Day
• Nelson Mandela
• Blood & Water
• Prison Journalism
• Studentlife News
• Study Abroad
• Studentlife Entertainment
• Studentlife Food
• Studentlife Health and Fitness
• Studentlife Lifestyle
• Studentlife Opinion
• Studentlife Sport
• Studentlife Tech
• Student Jobs
• Fashion and Beauty
• Local Celebs
• International Celebs
• All Travel News
• Travel South Africa
• Travel International
• Move to USA
• Move to New Zealand
• Move to the UK
• Move to Canada
• Move to Australia
• Move to South Africa
• Health & Fitness
• Parenting & Kids
• Sex, Love & Relationships
• Money Matters
• Start-up Africa
• My Business
• Art & Artists
• Health & Fitness
• Parenting & Kids
• Newsletters
• Terms, Conditions, Privacy & GDPR

Copyright Blue Sky Publications (Pty) Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

thesouthafrican.com is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited

• Business & Finance

Home » Prison Journalism: Life in Pollsmoor prison for the first time

Prison Journalism: Life in Pollsmoor prison for the first time

Jermaine’s first time in Pollsmoor Correctional Centre was in 2018 when he was sentenced to six months behind bars.

My first time in prison, it felt like I was lost, but as time goes on, I got used to it. But then, I met two wonderful ladies who did the restorative justice classes with the inmates in prison. Then, I decided to join them. Afterwards, I got so used to those classes, I did not want to stay out. And in the room that I stayed in, you could not do what you wanted to do because there were two camps that you must respect: the 26’s and the 28’s.

Every time you went to visit, you had to have something to share with them, and that is your tobacco. But afterwards, I got a little bit clever. For them, I let my mommy buy me a big pack of tobacco and 50 grams of tobacco for them. Then, I knew I did not need to give them any of mine. It is a place where you must respect one another. If you do not have respect there, then they hit you.

ALSO READ: Prison journalism: The feelings I hold for Nelson Mandela

SIX MONTHS IN PRISON

My first six months in prison were very hectic. I felt like someone who is not going home because time walked slowly. I was sentenced to 6 months in prison. That year was my first year in prison for Christmas, and there in Westlake (a small community next to the prison), we could hear how the people shouted, “Merry Christmas”. Prison is not a place for anyone; it is very dirty there. And if you do not know the ups and downs, then you must not enter that place, especially if you are not an ‘Indota’.

Indotas are the people they say are bosses in prison. If your people come to visit you, then you must share your stuff with them. In the morning, you must go shower before the Indotas go to wash themselves. And in the morning, when they want to discuss their stuff, like what they talk about in prison, they chase you to the toilet. They do not want you to hear what they talk about. Prison is a dirty place; they do not clean the toilets. You, as a newcomer, must do that when you enter the room. Plus, the showers have no warm water; it is cold water.

ALSO READ:  Prison journalism: How to endure the winters of a life sentence

It’s not nice to be in prison because it’s not your mommy’s house, where you can go make your coffee whenever you want to. And the saddest part of all, you have to wake up early in the morning because like they say in prison, Fransé (non gang members) can’t sleep late. Only the Ouens and the Fransé must go clean the toilet. There, you only eat twice in the day. At home, you can eat whenever you want to eat.

One day, I would like to go do prison ministry at Pollsmoor Correctional Centre with Restore, to tell them what I learned of all these times that I went in and out of prison. I was five times in prison. For Christmas two years ago, it was my first-time outside prison. But I’m thanking God for breaking that curse over my life.

ALSO READ:  Prison journalism: Programming in Pennsylvania prisons gave this lifer purpose

DISCLAIMER:   Submission published as received

About Jermaine: Jermaine’s first time in Pollsmoor Correctional Centre was in 2018, he was sentenced to six months. While he was at A Camp, he saw a lovely lady calling people to do Restore’s research classes. He decided to join the classes and afterward, He decided to go to that class every Tuesday, aiming to make a change in his life. Jermaine’s goal is to go to places where drug use is prevalent and tell users about  tik’s  terrible effects. He can’t blame the drug, but it makes most youngsters end up in prison.

RESTORE  is a NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa providing inmates at  Pollsmoor   Prison  with restorative justice opportunities.

Do you have contact with a prison inmate who would like to write for  The South African website ?

If so, send an email to  [email protected]  or a WhatsApp to  060 011 021 1

You can also follow  @TheSAnews on Twitter  and  The South African on Facebook  to get the latest prisoner journalism articles.

Is jy Afrikaans? Kliek hier vir nuus in jou taal!

Share this article

• Ethics & Leadership
• Fact-Checking
• Media Literacy
• The Craig Newmark Center
• Reporting & Editing
• Ethics & Trust
• Tech & Tools
• Business & Work
• Educators & Students
• Training Catalog
• Custom Teaching
• For ACES Members
• All Categories
• Broadcast & Visual Journalism
• Fact-Checking & Media Literacy
• Poynter ACES Introductory Certificate in Editing
• Poynter ACES Intermediate Certificate in Editing
• Ethics Training
• Ethics Articles
• Get Ethics Advice
• Fact-Checking Articles
• IFCN Grants
• International Fact-Checking Day
• Teen Fact-Checking Network
• International
• Media Literacy Training
• MediaWise Resources
• Ambassadors
• MediaWise in the News

Support responsible news and fact-based information today!

Today in Media History: 25 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison a free man

“Friends, comrades and fellow South Africans. I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all. I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands. On this day of my release, I extend my sincere and warmest gratitude to the millions of my compatriots and those in every corner of the globe who have campaigned tirelessly for my release.” — Nelson Mandela speech February 11, 1990

In 1962 the South African government sentenced Nelson Mandela to five years imprisonment for illegal exit from South Africa and incitement to strike.

Two years later he was tried for the additional charge of sabotage. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment at the Robben Island Prison. In 1982 officials transferred him to the Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town. He was moved to the Victor Verster Prison in December 1988.

On February 11, 1990, he walked out of prison a free man.

Following are story excerpts about that day:

“ Mandela had disappeared from view in 1964 after giving a four-hour speech at the conclusion of his sabotage trial, where he was convicted and received a life sentence. He was a rugged young man in his 40s, a former boxer who had full cheeks, a beard and mustache and was always dressed in a suit at his court appearances. He spent most of his prison term on Robben Island, South Africa’s version of Alcatraz. On this island fortress, Mandela often labored at a limestone quarry during the day, where the glaring sun harmed his eyes. At night, he could see the twinkling lights of Cape Town in the distance….” — NPR

In a BBC story filmed many years after he was released, Nelson Mandela remembered Robben Island Prison. ( Here is a link to the BBC video.)

“The decision to release Mandela came only after a protracted on-again, off-again negotiating process that began under de Klerk’s predecessor, P. W. Botha. For three years Mandela met regularly with senior government officials, led by Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee. Talks intensified once the pragmatic, energetic de Klerk replaced the ailing, cautious Botha last August. Over the past year, Mandela presented officials with at least two handwritten documents making specific proposals for ‘talks about talks’ between the government and the ANC and offering to serve as a ‘facilitator.’ But every time a deal for Mandela’s freedom seemed within reach, it snagged on another ‘precondition.'” — Newsweek

“CAPE TOWN, Feb. 10 — President F. W. de Klerk announced today that Nelson Mandela would be released from a prison outside Cape Town on Sunday afternoon, ending 27 and a half years of imprisonment for South Africa’s most celebrated black leader. Saying the release ‘will bring us to the end of a long chapter,’ Mr. de Klerk coupled his announcement with an appeal to the 71-year-old black leader to help steer the country toward a negotiated political settlement between whites and blacks. His plea underscored the extraordinary influence that Mr. Mandela has exerted while serving a life sentence for conspiracy to overthrow the Government and sabotage. Although he has spent more than half his adult life in jail, Mr. Mandela will emerge in a position that many South Africans have equated with that of Mr. de Klerk, the country’s head of state.” — New York Times

“It is one of the supreme ironies that on 11 February 1990, the day that Nelson Mandela was released after 27-and-a-half years in prison, the event that much of South Africa and the rest of the world had been waiting decades for, the country was not ready for him. The iconic image of that moment — a lean, beaming Mandela in a dark suit emerging from Victor Verster prison holding hands with Winnie, both raising triumphant clenched fist salutes — belied the chaos around them. The first person to shake Mandela’s hand as he exited the prison gates was John Battersby, a journalist with the Christian Science Monitor, who had arrived on the scene five minutes before only to walk straight into Mandela, who greeted him with his trademark bonhomie (much to the chagrin of the rest of the journalist pack, who had been waiting outside the gates for 11 hours). The release, at 5 pm, was an hour late. Mandela had not been seen in public in almost three decades, and that was in 1962, 14 years before South Africa got television. He had been absent all that time. Yet in his absence he had grown ever more present.” — The Guardian

“Freedom took new meaning Sunday as the world watched Nelson Mandela walk out of 27 years of captivity. The exultant celebration of his countrymen measured their own expectations. The violence that accompanied the celebration underscored the complexity of what lies ahead. The climax of the day was written in Mandela’s address to the nation, as the man imprisoned for terrorism set the agenda for all South Africans. With eloquence and vision, he looked beyond the bondage of apartheid to ‘the establishment of democracy’ on ‘a non-racial basis.'” — Los Angeles Times

25 years ago today on February 11, 1990, at a huge rally in Cape Town, Nelson Mandela addressed South Africa and world. He began with these words:

Opinion | X marks the spot for lots of misinformation

Elon Musk seemingly spends his days coming up with new ways to use his social media platform as a toy for misinformation and divisiveness

Opinion | Boom! The king of breaking sports media news breaks news of his own

NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski dropped his biggest Woj Bomb yet: He is stepping away from his $7 million salary and high-profile gig at ESPN.

It’s easy to find misinformation on social media. It’s even easier on X.

A platform that used to downgrade hoaxes, conspiracy theories and false claims has become one where even the boss now spreads the stuff

Meta and X removed the accounts of Trump’s assassination attempt suspect. That’s not uncommon.

Accounts linked to Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect, were removed from Meta and X likely due to policies on dangerous individuals.

I know how to be a journalist. I’m still figuring out how to lead a newsroom.

Here’s how one new newsroom leader retrained himself to embrace leadership after a career as a rank-and-filer

Start your day informed and inspired.

Get the Poynter newsletter that's right for you.

Pollsmoor Prison Restaurant 'Idlanathi' serves delicious food for cheap cheap

I had one of my best friends visiting Cape Town; she has been to all the cool spots, so I wanted to surprise her with a special lunch. Destination: Pollsmoor Prison (official name: Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison) in Tokai, about 25km from Cape Town. Who would have known one could lunch there?  I guess this is what makes it so exciting. Some of South Africa’s most dangerous criminals are held in Pollsmoor Prison. The inmates, low security prisoners in orange, cook and serve you lunch in the Pollsmoor Prison Restaurant 'Idlanathi' which means 'eat with us'. Well, we didn’t eat with them, but we had our eyes open when we spotted the guys in orange jumpsuits who spend the majority part of their day in the kitchen of the Pollsmoor Recreation Centre. The official blurb states: "Experience the exquisite thrill to be in the historical vicinity of the legendary and notorious Pollsmoor Prison. Dine in style on local affordable meals and grills, specially prepared by Pollsmoor cooks and chefs. Enjoy the professional catering service for special events."

The menu is compiled by the Pollsmoor Restaurant staff and offers a good selection of sandwiches, fries, grills and traditional meals in the canteen-like restaurant. The ambience is as low-key as you’d expect, but it’s still worth a visit. If you’re feeling brave, ask your waiter what he’s in for.

Cheap, cheap Breakfast options include a farm-style breakfast, a budget breakfast and a healthy breakfast (R16 - R27). Sandwiches range from cheese and tomato to egg and bacon, as well as beef, chicken and steak (R6 - R19). Mains are surprisingly affordable from a cheese burger and chips/tossed salad for R20, a rib burger and chips/tossed salad for R24 to a steak burger and chips/tossed salad for R26. Find daily specials such as curries, stews, lasagne and more on the blackboard. Other lunch options are seafood and salads. I opted for the yummy deep-fried calamari (R32  for 200g) with chips. My mates had the hake (R33) and the ladies T-bone with chips (R42). The most expensive option on the menu: large pork spareribs with chips for R60.

Interestingly, Nelson Mandela was once an inmate of the prison—so this is an enjoyable way to get closer to history. by Antonia Heil Pollsmoor Restaurant Idlanathi Steenberg Road | Tokai | +27 (0)21 700 1270 Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 7:45am – 2pm P.S. No tipping allowed. The Pollsmoor Restaurant Idlanathi also offers catering for functions. Hungry? Browse through our eating out section , subscribe to our newsletter and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter .

CapeTownMagazine.com

Unwrapping Cape Town with you

There's something exciting going on in Cape Town every week. Be the first to know what's new with our newsletter:

• Latest Added

This spring it’s 25 wine estates at the glamorous Grand Africa

Friday Night Steak Club, Afternoon Tea, 6-course tasting menu & more

20% off, free breakfast, access to rooftop pool

Your chance to have your pad in Cape Town’s CBD (from R985 000)

Ice cream flavours like cauliflower, curry oil and apple

Two best friends and a love for burgers: It’s Brash

Where to see the flowers & get a free B-well cookbook

Carats, cuts, ethical sourcing, lab grown diamonds & more

Join us in creating a DNA-changing impact on the province

Advertising on CapeTownMagazine.com

How to spend a weekend in Cape Town

All-natural ice cream, non-alcoholic bar and 45+ more

Hello 2024: Festival in a castle, family dinner, disco & more

CapeTownMagazine.com in the Media

Never-ending summer days at this secret treasure

Everything on the menu is under R100!

Inimitable falafel king

Cape Malay flavours meet fast food classics

Bachelorette parties

eateries that are child-friendly

The trendiest new spots on the block!

New Year's Day in Cape Town. A Public Holiday

Function Venues in Cape Town

Something Fresh This First Thursday?

Lorem ipsum doloris sit amet tosectet uert aos adipiscing lorem ipsum epis

STAY IN TOUCH

Things to Do

Accommodation, get more of molo.

Every month something you do not want to miss.

• In the Media
• Work with us
• Submit events
• Advertising
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of use

© 2005 - 2024 Cape Town Magazine PTY Ltd. All rights strictly reserved [2005 - 2024].

Curious to make exciting discoveries in Cape Town every day? "LIKE" us for a daily hidden gem. ▼

• Quick Facts
• Sights & Attractions
• Tsarskoe Selo
• Oranienbaum
• Foreign St. Petersburg
• Restaurants & Bars
• Accommodation Guide
• St. Petersburg Hotels
• Serviced Apartments
• Bed and Breakfasts
• Private & Group Transfers
• Airport Transfers
• Concierge Service
• Russian Visa Guide
• Request Visa Support
• Walking Tours
• River Entertainment
• Public Transportation
• Travel Cards
• Essential Shopping Selection
• Business Directory
• Photo Gallery
• Video Gallery
• 360° Panoramas
• Moscow Hotels
• Moscow.Info
• Museums of History and Politics

Peter and Paul Fortress

The first structure to be built in St. Petersburg, and thus the birthplace of the city, it never served its intended defensive function. Instead it has had a rich, hugely varied, and sometimes sinister history as a military base, a home of government departments, the burial ground of the Russian Imperial family, the site of groundbreaking scientific experiments, and a forbidding jail that held some of Russia's most prominent political prisoners.

Today, the Peter and Paul Fortress is for the most part under the auspices of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, with a number of permanent and temporary exhibitions charting the various aspects of the compound's past. While the central visitor attraction is undoubtedly the Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral, one of St. Petersburg's most striking buildings, there is plenty within the walls of the fortress to keep children and adults occupied for a full day at least. The Peter and Paul Fortress is also the centre of a number of St. Petersburg urban traditions, among them the daily firing of the cannon from the Naryshkin Bastion at noon and the "walruses" who use the beach in front of the fortress to sunbathe and swim in ice-holes in the winter. In the summer, the beach is a popular picnic site and is also used to host a variety of events, festivals and concerts, including the respected Petrojazz annual festival.

Accommodation near the Peter and Paul Fortress

Tradition hotel, elegantly fitted mini-hotel with views on the peter and paul fortress, vvedenskiy hotel, superior hotel popular with business travelers on the petrograd side, good-quality small hotel on the petrograd side near the peter and paul fortress, troitskaya ploshchad apartment, one-bed rental apartment with great views near the peter and paul fortress, apartments on voskova 2, affordable two-bed rental apartment in a pretty residential neighborhood, hostel 1912, friendly, family-run hostel located a short walk from the peter and paul fortress, dining near the peter and paul fortress, demyanova ukha, fish restaurant working for over forty years, with fish soup the specialty, first-class georgian restaurant located close to the peter and paul fortress, na zdorovye, rustic russian cuisine and cheery interiors near peter and paul fortress.

We can help you make the right choice from hundreds of St. Petersburg hotels and hostels.

Live like a local in self-catering apartments at convenient locations in St. Petersburg.

Comprehensive solutions for those who relocate to St. Petersburg to live, work or study.

Maximize your time in St. Petersburg with tours expertly tailored to your interests.

Get around in comfort with a chauffeured car or van to suit your budget and requirements.

Book a comfortable, well-maintained bus or a van with professional driver for your group.

Navigate St. Petersburg’s dining scene and find restaurants to remember.

Need tickets for the Mariinsky, the Hermitage, a football game or any event? We can help.

Get our help and advice choosing services and options to plan a prefect train journey.

Let our meeting and events experts help you organize a superb event in St. Petersburg.

We can find you a suitable interpreter for your negotiations, research or other needs.

Get translations for all purposes from recommended professional translators.