Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday met with members of the Robben Island ex-Political Prisoners Association (EPPA) at his residence Mahlamba Ndlopfu, in Pretoria.
The EPPA is a body representing all political prisoners who were incarcerated on Robben Island and other prisons for political offences.
“The meeting discussed a number of issues that affect former political prisoners and the assistance they require from various government departments.
“These include the exclusion of former political prisoners on the Department of Defence and Military Veterans Database, the issue of honouring those who were arrested and served time in Robben Island for political reasons, a review of the funeral scheme of ex-political prisoners and the establishment of the Robben Island Institute of Leadership (RIDLI), which will help in restoring the history of Robben Island,” said the Presidency.
The meeting agreed that matters raised will be taken to a dedicated task team comprising relevant government departments.
The task team will brief the President on progress made.
The meeting also agreed to develop an inclusive database of all former political prisoners alive and deceased. – SAnews.gov.za
