Between 1962 and 1966, as many as two thousand black men -- members and supporters of the ANC, PAC and smaller groups -- were sent to
Robben Island maximum security prison off the coast of Cape Town.
By granting the 20 corporations who bought the double tickets the right to advertise officially as "Corporate Friend of
Robben Island," they symbolically sold a sacred memory to the highest bidder.
We know more about the tribulations of South African athletes who were barred from world sporting events than we know about South African writers and artists and activists who languished on
Robben Island. And, when it comes to the athletes, we know more about the barefoot runner Zola Budd (white) than we know about the marathon runner and world champion Mark Plaatjes (black).
Political prisoners on
Robben Island were not allowed access to newspapers but those which carried stories that were part of the smear campaign against Ms Madikizela-Mandela were filtered through,' Mr Dingake told the service.
It was the first city in the world to award the anti-apartheid hero the Freedom of the City, in 1981 - when he was still a political prisoner on
Robben Island.
Betsy Medalla and Julian Valencia, both accomplished triathletes, easily became the first Filipinos-and first Asians-to complete the
Robben Island channel crossing on Sunday.
Freeman will also read out Mandela's letters to his wife, Winnie, which he wrote during his incarceration at
Robben Island prison.
So at the age of 46, with the death sentence not imposed, Mandela goes to
Robben Island for what turned out to be 18 years' hard labour, then another nine in other mainland prisons.
Mandela is battling a recurrence of a lung infection widely blamed on his forced labour in a limestone quarry while a prisoner of the apartheid regime in notorious
Robben Island jail.
Mr Obama's visit to
Robben Island came as Mr Mandela was in hospital for a third week in a critical condition.
The US President looked visibly moved as he took his wife Michelle and daughters Malia, 14, and Sasha, 12, to notorious
Robben Island.