Robben Island Museum (RIM) Chief Heritage Officer, Pascall Taruvinga, said RIM was introducing a new integrated tour guiding service on the island.

This follows several reassessments of the current model, which includes one guide for the bus trip around the island and another guide – an ex-political prisoner – conducting the prison tour. 

He said as time passed there were fewer ex-political prisoners available to conduct the tours. A ‘succession plan’ had to be devised.

A team of young guides was being integrated to conduct the entire tour of the island and prison, eliminating previous overlaps and contradictions and creating a smoother experience for visitors. None of the former prisoners would lose their jobs but would assist in interviewing and recording all surviving ex-political prisoners and preserving their stories for the future.

Taruvinga said RIM was also looking at establishing a restaurant and a visitor centre on the island; as well as establishing an exhibition in the prison to cater for independent audio- tours, especially for foreign language visitors. The museum was also planning roaming exhibitions that would travel to other provinces and enable more people to experience the island’s heritage.