Lahja Nashuuta
The Robben Island Museum in South Africa is set to unveil a life-size statue of the late Namibian liberation icon Andimba Toivo yaToivo during the reunion of former political prisoners this Saturday, 27 September. The statue will be placed at the historic Robben Island prison, where Ya Toivo was incarcerated for 16 years during Namibia’s liberation struggle. He passed away on 9 June 2017 at the age of 92.
Leading the Namibian delegation will be Sanet Steenkamp, Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC). The delegation also includes former Namibian Robben Island political prisoners, attending the event at the invitation of South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.
Through the National Heritage Cultural Programme, the Namibian delegation departed yesterday to participate in the reunion of Namibian and South African ex-political prisoners, taking place from 25 to 28 September 2025.
In a statement, Mbumba Erastus Haitengela, Executive Director of MEIYSAC, highlighted the historical importance of the reunion. “This gathering commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 1995 reunion and underscores the ongoing journey of remembrance and healing within Namibia’s socio-political history,” he said.
Haitengela added: “This event is more than a reunion; it is a meaningful opportunity to honour the struggles of Namibians who fought for freedom and dignity.” He noted that a key highlight of this year’s gathering will be the unveiling of a statue commemorating Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, alongside other prominent South African liberation icons.
“Toivo ya Toivo’s enduring legacy as a symbol of resilience and heroism continues to inspire both present and future generations, offering profound insights into Namibia’s history of political resistance and reconciliation,” the statement reads.
Haitengela revealed that the ceremony will also feature the unveiling of five additional sculptures honouring those imprisoned on Robben Island during the apartheid era. “A wall of remembrance, listing the names of former prisoners, will also be revealed, paying tribute to their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to justice,” he said.
Vicky Erenstein ya Toivo, the widow of the late liberation hero, expressed her pride in representing her late husband and Namibia at the event. In an interview with NBC, she said: “I was contacted in early June by the Robben Island Museum and the South African government to inform me about the reunion on 27 September, where former prisoners and their families will be present. They told me a wall of remembrance will be unveiled with the names of all former prisoners, and six life-size statues of prominent former prisoners or Robben Island residents will be revealed. One of them is Andimba. We accepted the invitation with honour, seeing it as a representation of Namibia and all former prisoners,” she explained.
-lnashuuta@nepc.com.na