Permit - 373564

The following application pertains to the proposed Maintenance Management Plan for the Robben Island Museum and associated maintenance works, located on Robben Island, farm nr. 1436, within the jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, Western Cape Province in accordance with Section 27(18) of the National Heritage Resources Act, No. 25 of 1999. Robben Island has a long history in South Africa as a place of banishment, isolation and imprisonment. The island has history from the precolonial era, the earliest travellers to South Africa, the Dutch occupation period, the British occupation period, the military period, apartheid period and currently as a museum, National Heritage Site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overview of Content:

The houses on the Island were constructed over a long period, with designs ranging from the late 1800s to post-1960, featuring various contemporary architectural styles. Notable buildings include John Craig Hall, built in 1943 as part of World War Two infrastructure and named after the harbour engineer, the Village School, constructed in 1895 for the commissioner and later converted into a guesthouse and conference facility, and a clinic built during World War Two to replace an earlier 1905 structure. The Club House, originally altered in the 1890s, functioned as a staff club, later becoming a sporting club and library by 1910, before being used as a military training school from 1931-1959, and as a primary school for warders' children from 1959-1991. The Guest House, originally dating from the 1840s, accommodated the chief doctor of the hospital and later military personnel, eventually serving as a staff club for warders and residents after 1959.

The statement of cultural significance on the Village precinct's buildings reflect the Island's historical evolution, showcasing varying architectural styles that represent different periods of development and create a unique urban landscape integral to the Island's identity. Socially and historically, the precinct represents the Island's layered history, symbolizing more than just the apartheid-era prison and reflecting the community's life, with buildings like the village school, John Craig Hall, and the clubhouse being important symbols of the Island's social and family life, while continuing occupation adds significance. The grouping has no known scientific, technological, spiritual, or linguistic significance.  

The purpose of this application is for the proposed Maintenance Management Plan for the Robben Island Museum and associated maintenance works on the Village Precinct which includes the following sites and their allocated building reference numbers: Houses (B152 – B162; B170 – B191; B199 - B208; BB222; B228 – B229, B232 – B241; B243 – B253; B256 – B260; B266, B277 – B318, B325 – b340, B342 – b346, B348 – B411, B4446 – B452), John Craig Hall (B231), Village School (B319 – B324), Club House (B223), Sporting facilities (B220, B221, B261 – B263, B265), Guest House (B267 – B272), Clinic (B365 – B367). The proposed activities aligns with the statutory provisions intended to protect and conserve South Africa's national heritage resources. The following supporting documents were reviewed in assessing this application:

• 01 RIM MMP_Heritage Report_Rev 7.pdf
• 02 Appendix A_RIM Map_9.pdf
• 03 Appendix B_RIM MMP Condition Assessment Report_ Rev B July 2024.pdf
• 04 Grouping 7_Corrective Maintenance.xlsx
• 05 Appendix B_RIM MMP TERMS OF REFERENCE.pdf
• 06 Appendix C_Public Consultation Report.pdf
• 07 Photographic Documentation.pdf
• Preventative Maintanance Group 7.xlsx
• RIM MMP_Broll letter of authority.pdf
• Clinic.JPG
• IMG_4959.JPG