Cape Town - The Robben Island Museum has given away 500 tickets to orphans and others who would not otherwise be able to visit the island where Nelson Mandela served 18 of his 27 years in prison.
Tickets would also be given to pensioners and schoolchildren so they could view the world through the lens of the most famous political prisoner, Robben Island Museum chief executive Sibongiseni Mkhize said.
The ferry would not be running on Friday because of bad weather, but the tickets would remain valid.
In his Mandela Day message, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu urged people to give what they could to bring joy to others. He is to spend his 67 minutes painting and reading to children at the V&A Waterfront.
He would be praying for the millions of South Africans who were making a contribution, as well as for the “innocent people of Palestine and Israel… ensnared in a deadly spiral of hatred and war”.
“(Mandela’s) role as a global symbol of grace was entrenched. When he asked people to join him in doing things for others they rarely hesitated. There is no greater reward than giving. It may inspire you to make every day a Mandela Day.”
Cape Times