Hundreds of political prisoners began a hunger strike at Robben Island

Date: 4 Mar 1990
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The release of Nelson Mandela on 11 February 1990 was a catalyst that sped up the change in the political dispensation in South Africa. On 4 March 1990 343 political prisoners on Robben Island went on a hunger strike demanding their release in order to strengthen the bargaining positions of the ANC. While de Klerk suggested that the unconditional release of political prisoners was a real possibility, he faced considerable opposition from the white electorate as many of the political prisoners were detained for their involvement in acts of violence. Nonetheless, this campaign showed a rare glimpse of political unity among Black political prisoners opposed to Apartheid, as prisoners from political movements across the political spectrum joined in this hunger strike for demanding their release.

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01New York Times,"South African Political Prisoners Fasting",From: New York Times,[Online],Available at: www.nytimes.com,[Accessed on:05 February 2014]
02CSVR,Savage.k.,"Negotiating the Release of Political Prisoners in South Africa",From: CSVR,[Online],Available at: www.csvr.org.za,[Accessed on:05 February 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Hundreds of political prisoners began a hunger strike at Robben Island. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012865

South African History Online (2011) 'Hundreds of political prisoners began a hunger strike at Robben Island', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012865 (Accessed: 26 July 2026).

South African History Online, Hundreds of political prisoners began a hunger strike at Robben Island [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012865, (accessed 26 July 2026).

"Hundreds of political prisoners began a hunger strike at Robben Island." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012865. Accessed 26 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Hundreds of political prisoners began a hunger strike at Robben Island." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012865.