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- Robben Island's maintenance budget has been increased by almost 37% to bring decaying infrastructure back up to standard.
- The world heritage site has been plagued by mismanagement, declining visitor numbers, and worsening infrastructure in recent years.
- The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure said on Monday it would dedicate more money and attention to the island.
More attention and money will be given to Robben Island in an effort to revitalise the world heritage site that plays an important part in South Africa's history, according to the government.
"Robben Island is the soul of South Africa's democracy [and] it's referred to by many as a university of life to many of our leaders," Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa said during a media briefing at the V&A Waterfront earlier this week.
Kodwa's visit to Robben Island and subsequent briefing on the state of the heritage site's infrastructure coincided with a readiness update on the Netball World Cup in Cape Town from 28 July.
Being "quite happy" with the progress made in addressing challenges faced by Robben Island, Kodwa added that he hoped to see many tourists enjoy the excursion while in town for the sporting event.
The Robben Island Museum, infamous for housing anti-apartheid activists, chief among them Nelson Mandela, during their incarceration, has fallen on hard times.
In 2021, salaries of the island's staff were cut by 50% as coronavirus pandemic restrictions halted tourism. Even before the pandemic, the Robben Island Museum started showing signs of decay, financial decline, and governance challenges.
"There have been issues on Robben Island… but we are beginning to see improvements, both in terms of the governance structures and management, but it was also important to see the facility itself and what work needs to be done, hence we were joined by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure," Kodwa said.
The department, represented at the briefing by Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts, will make a series of follow-up visits to the island for infrastructure assessments, according to Kodwa.
Swarts added:
"The maintenance of such properties is a key component of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure as we are custodians of the bulk infrastructure rollout," said Swarts, who admitted that maintenance of the island's infrastructure needed to be improved.
These ongoing maintenance challenges were recently highlighted by the Robben Island Museum's Annual Performance Plan 2022-23. The report noted that the "Department of Public Works and Infrastructure failed in maintaining the island".
"In the previous financial year, we'd budgeted R111 million [for the maintenance of Robben Island's infrastructure], which then went up to R152 million. It might change in this financial year because when we're doing maintenance on any facility, it depends… we also have the climate and environment that are factors," said Swarts.
"Because Robben Island is near water all the time… that R152 million might change as well."
