[imagesource: Frans Lemmens/ Getty Images]

A group of 35 seniors and carers who visited Robben Island last Wednesday have called the day out “the most horrible experience ever”.

Fowzia Veerasamy, who led the excursion, described how many of the seniors in the group were left hurt and terrified due to a bus driver’s reckless speeding.

At the time, Veerasamy said management had done little to rectify the situation, with Robben Island Museum spokesperson Melany Kühn saying they were “aware of the incident” and “currently investigating the matter”.

Robben Island Museum CEO Abigail Thulare has now reached out to offer an apology, reports IOL.

As part of the apology statement, Thulare said “particular concern [is] given to safety and comfort at all times” and added that they are “currently engaging directly with the affected parties and will be inviting them back to the island”.

That appears unlikely to pan out:

[The group] have said “no thanks” to an offer by the Robben Island Museum CEO to remake and relive the experience.

Instead, the group are demanding a full refund and commitment from the Museum to fork out the medical bills of the injured seniors. They also want the Museum to acknowledge the driver was negligent when they were injured due to his alleged erratic driving…

Image: Fowzia Veerasamy

Veerasamy [said on Friday] that they had not spoken to anyone from RIM and that they did not wish to return to the island as the experience was too traumatic.

“No! We don’t want to go back to the island because it’s too traumatic,” said Veerasamy…

At this stage, things may have reached an impasse.

Handing out a refund to those affected should be simple enough, but if the Museum agrees to cover medical bills costs could escalate.

Veerasamy said late last week that three people are “still at doctors and private hospitals” and also want the Museum to compensate those involved for the “prolonged effects it will have on them”.

A document signed on Wednesday by Veerasamy at the Robben Island Museum head office in the V&A Waterfront might work against the group on that front.

Thulare has stated that interviews with staff and investigations into the matter are not yet completed.

[source:iol]