Electrical maintenance on some parts of Robben Island, a World Heritage Site, was last carried out in 1991, a situation so dangerous it is putting lives at risk.
Briefing parliament's portfolio committee on arts and culture yesterday, Robben Island Council chairman Sibusiso Buthelezi said: "It's more an issue of luck that we have not had a catastrophe."
Robben Island Museum CEO, Sibongiseni Mkhize, said Public Works had been paid to do island maintenance until last year, when Robben Island ended the relationship.
"Absolutely no maintenance was taking place and the island was in a shocking state," Mkhize said. "It was daylight robbery of taxpayers' money."
Buthelezi said certificates of compliance for one of the transformers on the island's power plant showed it was last serviced in 1991 - contrary to health and safety regulations.
The public protector's office had become involved but Mkhize said the status of the investigation was unknown.
He said the island was unique and needed to be run like a municipality, generating electricity, desalinating water and dealing with waste and sewage.
Arts and Culture director-general Sibusiso Xaba said: "We have spoken to Public Works and it is clear they are going to vacate the island. We have a capital works budget for Robben Island and we need to engage with them."
Committee chairman, Xoliswa Tom, said: "This is a treasure of our country. We must ensure that we handle it in a manner which doesn't embarrass us."
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