Escapes
Ukuqhawula kwamabanjwa entolongweni
Ontsnappings
Escapes
Despite being virtually inescapable, due to its strict security and high walls, eleven prisoners managed to escape in 1946 by smuggling in saw blades and sawing open bars, escaping across the roof and landing in the street. Many instruments were discovered that are testament to prisoners’ attempts at escape.
Ukuqhawula kwamabanjwa entolongweni
Nangona yayakhiwe yaneendonga eziphakamileyo nokhuseleko lwayo luluqilima, ngowe-1946 amabanjwa alishumi elinanye akwazi ukuqhawula asabe ngokuqabela eluphahleni, anqumle aye kuphumela esitalatweni, oko ekwenze emva kokunyubelezisa iibhleyidi zesarha zisarhe iintsimbi. Ukungqina oku, zikho izixhobo ezazimana zibhaqwa ukungqina ukuba amabanjwa ayeyenza imigushuzo yokuqhawula entolongweni.
Ontsnappings
Die streng sekuriteit en hoë mure het dit bykans onmoontlik gemaak om te ontsnap. Ten spyte hiervan het elf gevangenes in 1946 daarin geslaag om te ontsnap. Hulle het saaglemme ingesmokkel en gevangenistralies oopgesaag en toe oor die dak en tot in die pad ontsnap. Verskeie instrumente wat bewys lewer van die gevangenes se ontsnappingspogings is opgespoor.
“A Bird in Hand” – Using a bird to escape
A burglar was brought to the prison, told to knock on the door and present himself to the wardens, while his arresting officer waited in the car, before driving off after seeing the prisoner be let in the gate. The burglar proceeded to convince the warden that he was there to buy birds and was let out!
Prisoniere was onnodig geslaan uit die selle tot by die hek met batons.
A prisoner escaped, and he did so by climbing up the wall outside my cell. I was lying on my bed when I heard a bang and saw a pair of blue jeans flashing across one of my barred windows…The next afternoon I heard a sound which told of the sad sequel: the pathetic clank-clank of a man walking in leg-irons. The escapist had been recaptured.
(Extract written by Stephanie Kemp: Stephanie on Trial (1968), Albie Sachs, p. 269)
Ek het ingekom met die trok saam… het ek ingekom en my uitgetrek, nakend gestaan en op die grond gele… toe staan ors op die lyn net so naken toe moet ors gaan shower onder die koue shower met blou seep.
In collaboration with the Western Cape Archives and Records Service
