News reports
Order a long-term news report on Robben Island
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Windhoek Observer
Renthia Kaimbi Tributes are flowing in following the death of liberation struggle veteran, former Robben Island prisoner and workers’ rights advocate Helao Joseph Shityuwete, who died on 29 August 2026, just days after celebrating his 92nd birthday. …
Namibia mourns liberation icon Helao ShityuweteInformanté
… Shityuwete endured imprisonment on Robben Island for opposing apartheid and colonial oppression. …
Shityuwete remembered as champion of workers’ rightsWindhoek Observer
… Shityuwete endured imprisonment on Robben Island for his opposition to apartheid and colonial rule. …
President mourns liberation struggle veteran Helao ShityuweteWindhoek Observer
… Nehale died in Robben Island prison on 4 March 1971 and was buried at Maitland Cemetery in Cape Town on 8 April that year. …
Liberation heroes reburied at Heroes’ AcreNew Era
… The remains of Niilenge and Nehale, both former political prisoners who were incarcerated on Robben Island for their involvement in the liberation struggle, were formally received by Nandi-Ndaitwah on Friday on behalf of the Namibian people. …
Home at last … Namibia’s fallen heroes’ home after decadesWindhoek Observer
… Nehale and Niilenge were political prisoners on Robben Island, where they were detained during apartheid. …
A nation’s dead finally come home: Namibia receives 86 remains from South AfricaThe Namibian
Namibia has welcomed home the remains of former Robben Island political prisoners Petrus Niilenge and Festus Nehale, together with ancestral remains repatriated from South Africa after decades away from their homeland. …
Namibia welcomes home Robben Island prisoners’ remainsThe Namibian
… Speaking at the Iziko Museum in Cape Town on Wednesday during the handing over of the remains of former Robben Island prisoners in partnership with the Namibian government, McKenzie addressed criticism levelled against South Africa over strict documentation enforcement for foreig …
SA minister hails Namibia as ‘true sister nation’ amid xenophobia allegationsInformanté
… The process gained renewed momentum following the Robben Island Reunion held in Cape Town in September 2025, during the 30th anniversary of the first gathering of former Namibian and South African political prisoners. …
Steenkamp apologises for delay in repatriation of Namibian ancestral remainsInformanté
… They were among those imprisoned for their political involvement in that struggle and were incarcerated on Robben Island, together with political prisoners from Namibia and South Africa,” the President said. …
President hails repatriation of Namibian ancestral remains as milestone in restoring dignitySecretary to Cabinet Emilia Mkusa says Namibia has no specific protocols governing the burial of former first spouses and is currently considering appropriate arrangements, following the death of former first lady Penehupifo Pohamba, aged 78. It remains unclear whether she will be accorded a state funeral or national honours, as the president is yet to decide.
12 hours ago · The Namibian →
Secretary to Cabinet Emilia Mkusa says Namibia has no specific protocols governing the burial of former first spouses and is currently considering appropriate arrangements, following the death of former first lady Penehupifo Pohamba, aged 78. It remains unclear whether she will be accorded a state funeral or national honours, as the president is yet to decide.
12 hours ago · The Namibian →
Former Robben Island prisoner and liberation struggle veteran Helao Shityuwete was buried at Pionierspark Cemetery in Windhoek following a state funeral on Saturday.
15 September 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The family of liberation struggle veteran Helao Shityuwete has questioned the government's decision to bury him at Gammams Cemetery rather than Heroes' Acre, asking what requirement he did not meet given his record of 18 years imprisonment on Robben Island.
14 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibians gathered at Pioneerspark Cemetery in Windhoek to bid farewell to liberation struggle veteran Helao Joseph Shityuwete, who died on 29 August at age 92. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah honoured his 18 years of imprisonment—16 years on Robben Island and two years in pre-trial detention—as emblematic of sacrifices made by Namibians in their struggle for independence.
14 September 2026 · New Era →
An editorial in the Windhoek Observer criticises the decision not to bury liberation struggle veteran Helao Joseph Shityuwete at Heroes' Acre, and calls for the committee responsible to publicly explain the criteria and reasoning behind the exclusion.
14 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The state funeral of liberation struggle veteran Helao Joseph Shityuwete, a former Robben Island political prisoner who spent 18 years imprisoned, has prompted calls for him to have been buried at Heroes' Acre and accorded national hero status, with supporters arguing his decades of sacrifice and instrumental role in the armed liberation struggle warranted Namibia's highest honour.
14 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Nandi-Ndaitwah has described the late Helao Joseph Shityuwete as a member of a selfless generation whose sacrifice, including 18 years in prison, helped pave the way for Namibia's independence. At his state funeral in Windhoek, she noted that he spent 16 years on Robben Island and two years in pre-trial detention before witnessing the freedom for which he had sacrificed.
13 September 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah paid tribute to late liberation struggle veteran Helao Joseph Shityuwete at his state funeral, saying his sacrifice and 18 years in prison helped lay the foundation for Namibia's independence and must inspire ongoing nation-building efforts.
13 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah honoured late Colonel Helao Joseph Shityuwete, a former Robben Island political prisoner who spent 16 years imprisoned for his role in Namibia's liberation struggle, saying his legacy should inspire future generations.
13 September 2026 · Informanté →
Former political prisoners and parliamentarians have criticised the government's decision to bury liberation struggle veteran Helao Shityuwete at Pionierspark, arguing that his 18 years on Robben Island and his role in the liberation struggle warranted burial at Heroes' Acre instead.
13 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Windhoek Observer argues that liberation struggle veteran and former Robben Island prisoner Helao Joseph Shityuwete should be buried at Heroes' Acre and granted national hero status, noting his role in worker mobilisation, the establishment of the Ovamboland People's Organisation's Walvis Bay branch, and involvement in the 1966 PLAN armed liberation struggle.
11 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The government will accord liberation struggle veteran and former Robben Island prisoner Helao Shityuwete a state funeral in recognition of his contribution to Namibia's independence. Shityuwete, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 years during the apartheid era, died on 29 August at age 92.
10 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Helao Shityuwete, a liberation struggle veteran and former Robben Island prisoner who died on 29 August at age 92, is remembered by his children as a gentle, present father who sewed his daughter's ballet costumes and taught them human rights, dignity, equality, and kindness alongside his public role as an anti-apartheid activist and labour advocate.
7 September 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Namibians, particularly youth, to take responsibility for the country's economic future, saying Namibia has entered the "second phase" of its struggle after achieving political independence. She stated that political independence marked one phase while economic liberation represents the next phase of the struggle.
7 September 2026 · New Era →
Helao Shityuwete, an anti-apartheid activist who spent 18 years imprisoned on Robben Island for his role in Namibia's liberation struggle, died in Windhoek on Saturday aged 92. His daughter describes him as a principled, warm and involved father who shared his experiences and taught his children values of dignity and care.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Ndayola Ulenga's one-woman theatre performance 'KoKo: Patulula' returned to the stage for its second season at the Goethe-Institut Namibia, marking the institute's first play performance in its new building and Ulenga's final performance before beginning her masters studies in the United Kingdom. The performance explores her mother's childhood home and her father's experiences with the People's Liberation Army of Namibia during the apartheid era and liberation struggle.
1 September 2026 · The Namibian →
McHenry Venaani has paid tribute to Helao Shityuwete, a liberation struggle veteran and former Robben Island political prisoner who died at 92. Venaani described Shityuwete as a courageous and humble Namibian whose sacrifice for the country's freedom, from his work at Walvis Bay docks through military service and imprisonment, should be remembered as part of Namibia's history.
31 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Helao Shityuwete, a former Robben Island political prisoner who spent 18 years imprisoned during the liberation struggle, died on Saturday. His death leaves Betuel Nuunyango as the only surviving member of the group of 37 Namibian nationalists incarcerated on Robben Island in the 1960s.
31 August 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says Namibia must preserve its liberation history and pass it to future generations, remarking that reburial ceremonies of heroes remind the nation of its continuing responsibility to those who sacrificed for independence. The country recently received the remains of 84 ancestral remains and two liberation struggle heroes who died on Robben Island, with six heroes reburied at Heroes' Acre in August and symbolic burials held for two others whose remains have not yet been found.
31 August 2026 · New Era →
Windhoek Observer laments that young Namibians increasingly do not know Helao Joseph Shityuwete, a former political prisoner and liberation struggle activist who died on 29 August at age 92, reflecting broader failure by the education system and national leadership to adequately preserve and transmit Namibia's independence history.
31 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Helao Joseph Shityuwete, a former Robben Island prisoner and workers' rights advocate who played a key role in Namibia's liberation struggle, has died at age 92. President Nandi-Ndaitwah described him as a courageous patriot whose life was characterised by sacrifice, resilience and commitment to Namibian freedom.
31 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has mourned the death of liberation struggle veteran and workers' rights advocate Helao Joseph Shityuwete, who died on 29 August 2026 shortly after celebrating his 92nd birthday. Nandi-Ndaitwah described Shityuwete as a distinguished Namibian and lifelong champion of workers' rights who endured imprisonment on Robben Island and contributed through writing and advocacy for the liberation struggle.
30 August 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has mourned the death of liberation struggle veteran and workers' rights advocate Helao Joseph Shityuwete, who died on 29 August 2026 days after his 92nd birthday. The President described him as a courageous patriot whose life was marked by sacrifice and commitment to Namibia's liberation and workers' rights, noting he was imprisoned on Robben Island and continued serving through writing and labour advocacy.
30 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced the completion of a 12-year process to bring liberation struggle heroes home, with the remains of six reinterred at Heroes' Acre on Monday and symbolic graves established for two others whose remains remain missing.
25 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia received the mortal remains of liberation struggle heroes Simon Petrus Niilenge and Festus Nehale, both former Robben Island political prisoners, along with 84 ancestral human remains repatriated from South Africa. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah described the ceremony at Hosea Kutako International Airport as the restoration of dignity, identity and belonging.
24 August 2026 · New Era →
Namibia has received the remains of 86 Namibians from South Africa, comprising 84 ancestral human remains and the mortal remains of liberation heroes Festus Nehale and Simon Petrus Niilenge. The repatriation, following a solemn ceremony in Cape Town, has been described by the government as a historic act of restoration, dignity and national healing.
24 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia has received the remains of former Robben Island political prisoners Petrus Niilenge and Festus Nehale, along with ancestral remains, repatriated from South Africa after decades. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah received them at Hosea Kutako International Airport and stated the repatriation represents an effort to restore dignity and mark national healing.
22 August 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has lauded Namibia as a "true brother and sister" for supporting South Africa during xenophobia accusations, particularly noting Namibia's backing of the South African national football team during their 2026 World Cup campaign. McKenzie defended South Africa's documentation requirements for foreign nationals, arguing that enforcing proper entry protocols does not constitute xenophobia.
22 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Minister Sanet Steenkamp apologised for delays in returning Namibian ancestral and mortal remains from South Africa, citing circumstances beyond the ministry's control that affected flight arrangements. Namibia received the remains of two former political prisoners and the ancestral remains of 84 people, along with casts and cultural heritage materials.
21 August 2026 · Informanté →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah described the repatriation of 84 ancestral remains, casts, and cultural artefacts from Iziko Museum in South Africa, along with the mortal remains of two liberation struggle figures, Festus Nehale and Simon Petrus Niilenge, as a significant milestone in restoring dignity and identity. The ceremony took place at Hosea Kutako International Airport.
21 August 2026 · Informanté →