Kuvela Kwesifo Sebu Leplosi e Robben Island

Kusuka eJele Kuya eMtfolamphilo

©David Fleminger
Robben Island beyakhelwe kugcina bantfu laba nenkinga yengcondvo, labahlupheke sikhatsi lesidze kanye nalaba gulako labanga lapheki, labebanga phatsa labanye bahlali ngesihlungu. Kuvalela lemiphefumulo levelelwe, ekudzeni kwemehlo nonembeza welinyenti, bekukadze kungumbono lomuhle, kusuka kumnyaka wango 1846 kuya ku 1931, iRobben Island beyisebentiswa njenge lithange lekuvalela labo laba ngasakwati kuhlanganyela nelinyenti noma umphakatsi.
Emkhatsini wakuminyaka yakuma 1800, sifo sebu leplosi savela, labaphetswe yilesifo, liningi lingabantfu laba mnyama futsi bahluphekile, bekungabantfu labangazange babe nenhlanhla. Kokucala bebatfolwe ngesifo lesi buhlungu, (lebe singanalo likhambi ngaleso skhatsi), futsi kwesibili bebayincenye longanavelo futsi longacoli, lowaba gagula njebantfu laba ngcolile.
Nanamuhla lesafundziswa kona ngesifo sebu leplosi yikutsi sifo lesiyingoti kakhulu, lesi cacadza tingalo, titiphumele kanye nesikhumba siyabola. Liciniso litsi lesifo asitfusi ngaleyondlela. eRobben Island, laba sebenta kugadza baphindze bancedze tigulane letiphetswe buleplosi, bebenta konkhe lokusemandleni abo.
Kwendlula loko babanika lusito lolwecile, babanika emanti elwandle lebekekholwa kutsi yiwo langakwati kubasita, banesi tfombo lesincane ekugcineni kwe (Island), labagezela khona. Tinsalelo talo leli damu lelincane, betibitwa nge (Baths of Bathoda), nanamuhla kusabonakala kanye futsi nemanti, emanti lamnyama lasemkhatsini kwematje lamise kwe ndingilizi yelibondza, umphakatsi ubonakala kutsi awujabuli ngale sento. Tigulane lebeti gulela emakhaya ngebu leplosi, tahlutfulwa emindenini nebangani bato, tayolahlelwa kuyo le (Island).

Simo Sokuphila Kuyo i Island

©David Fleminger
Simo senhlalo eRobben Island besinga jabulisi, sasi buhlungu kakhulu. Emanti lahlobile bekangekho kahle, simo setulu singacoleli, botiva uwedva, kugcele tifo letifana nekusheka kanye nesifutsefutse. Ngeminyaka yakuma 1850, kwaphuma tindzaba tesimo setigigaba lebetenteka eRobben Island, lokwenta kutsi labakhulu, nebaphatsi bakhona bocoshwe. Ngema 1860 kwakhetswa umphakatsi lomusha lowazama kubuyisa kulashwa kwetinhlanya, wabeka phansi tinketane nokushaywa kwetinhlanya, kusebentiswe tindlela letincono, kubukisiswe kutsi baphetse yini.
Timfanelo betisa shoda kodva simo salabo laba velelwe besingavumi kutsi bakhe tindvonga letisha. Inftutfuko yesakhiwo lenkhulu yentiwa ngema 1890. Ngomnyaka wanga 1931, licembu le (League of Nations Health Organisation) labeka kutsi kugcinwa kwebantfu laba gula ngebu leplosi e Island kuvalwe, kutfolwe indlela lencono futsi letoshintja simo sale sifo.Umtsetfo nendzawo yekugcina tigulane yavalwa ngaloyo mnyaka. Tigulane letatisele tatfunyelwa e(Westfort hospital), dvutane nePitoli.

Translated by Thandokuhle Motha