Cape Town is one of South Africa's three capital cities. Cape Town is the legislative capital, while Pretoria is the executive capital, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital and home to the Supreme Court of Appeal.  Cape Town is considered a Beta City on the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. The Dutch India Company founded the town as a supply station for Dutch ships sailing to East Africa, India, and the Far East. Jan van Riebeeck arrived on 6 April 1652 and established the first permanent European settlement in South Africa.  Robben Island, located 6 kilometers from Cape Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nelson Mandela is its most famous prisoner having spent 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment here. He, of course, went on to serve as South Africa's president from 1994-1999. Two other South African presidents also spent time on Robben Island as prisoners - Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma. Mandela also went on the win the Nobel Peace Prize. The island h...