Safety concerns

ROBBEN Island, famed for being the place where political prisoners and the most famous of them all – former president Nelson Mandela – were incarcerated, is understandably a tourist attraction.

People travel from across the globe to get a glimpse of what it was like to be imprisoned there, to stand in Madiba’s cell and visit the lime quarry where he worked tirelessly.

Schools take their pupils to visit the Island, and many locals have not yet had the opportunity to board a ferry and make the journey to the Island – a National Heritage Site – for various reasons.

But many, young and old, would not dare board a ferry knowing it was not in perfect condition to transport them safely to and from the Island.

So when news broke that a Robben Island Museum ferry had started sinking on Friday, pandemonium struck.

The National Sea Rescue Institute was called in to help, and fortunately all 64 passengers and five crew members on board Thandi were rescued unharmed.

The story could have played itself out very differently had the circumstances been different.

Many questions remain. Was the ferry not seaworthy? Who gave the green light for the ferry to go out in choppy seas? And who will be held accountable for this near disaster?

There has also been an appeal to the national government to give control of the Robben Island Museum to the DA-led Western Cape government or City of Cape Town. Is this the answer? Why is everything a political squabble?

The peak tourist season is nearly upon us and thousands of people will be keen to visit the Island. But can we guarantee their and many other pupils’ safety?

The South African Maritime Safety Authority has launched a probe to determine what exactly happened on Friday.

The Robben Island Museum has assured the public that tours will continue as normal, and that they, too, will conduct an internal investigation.

Now we wait with bated breath to hear the outcome of both investigations.