South Africa: commemorating 150 years since the battle of Solferino

02-07-2009 Field Newsletter

This compilation of testimonies, photos and artwork pays tribute to the ICRC's work in South Africa between 1963 and 1991 and celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Red Cross. The ICRC started visiting political detainees on Robben Island in 1963. Over the next three decades, the ICRC visited thousands of prisoners all over South Africa and gave their families food and travel tickets so that they too could visit them.

 
 
 
  commemorating 150 years since the battle of Solferino    
    Booklet    
(PDF file/2 MB) Help 
 
   
   
   
 
Battle of Solferino, 24 June 1859    
   
   
   
 
Nelson Mandela and Eddie Daniels    
   
   
   
 
A letter from Johnson Mlambo to the ICRC    
   
   
   
 
Voyage to freedom (Nelson Mandela), Tempera and paper on canvas, by Anna Mueller. 
      

 This booklet pays tribute to all the ICRC delegates and national employees who worked endlessly to help those who suffered under apartheid. The ICRC wishes to thank the former detainees for their contributions, the Robben Island Museum, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Luthuli House for their assistance and Anna Mueller for the amazing artwork that gave life to this booklet.  

    

 
Contents 
 

 Testimonies  

  • Nelson Mandela, imprisoned on Robben Island between 1963 and 1990  

    

  • Johnson Mlambo, imprisoned on Robben Island between 1963 and 1983  

    

  • Philip Silwana, imprisoned on Robben Island between 1966 and 1976. Chairperson of the committee in charge of prisoners’ affairs.  

    

  • James April, imprisoned on Robben Island between 1971 and 1986  

    

  • Tito Maleka, imprisoned on Robben Island between 1979 and 1990  

    

  • Eddie Daniels, imprisoned on Robben Island between 1964 and 1979  

    

  • Deborah “Debs” Matshoba-Mabale, held in several prisons in the late 1970s and early 1980s  

    

  • Bennie Ntoele, imprisoned on Robben Island from 1963 to 1973 and again from 1979 to 1989  

    

  • Nicolas de Rougemont, ICRC Regional Delegate for Southern Africa from 1991 to 1993. Worked in Africa on a number of occasions and visited Robben Island ten times between 1974 and 1991.  

    

... and others.

    

 Artwork: Anna Mueller

 Photos