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Recalling the days of apartheid
Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg
Display at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg
© Chris Marais
Did you know?
Apartheid was a system to make blacks foreigners in their own country, welcome only as cheap labour.
The Apartheid Museum documents the struggle for freedom during the darkest days of racial oppression in South Africa.
The National Party came to power in 1948 in a surprise election victory. There were many reasons why it triumphed, but none more so than it offered segregation of the races in simple, easy-to-grasp terms.
To give effect to this philosophy, the South African Bureau for Racial Affairs was launched. This led directly to a number of racial laws, including the Population Registration Act, which assigned every person to a racial category; and the Group Areas Act, which enforced separate urban areas for each race group.
There were myriad other repressive measures. It was a crime to strike and freedom of movement was severely curtailed. 'It was a crime to walk through a whites-only door,' wrote Nelson Mandela, 'a crime to live in a certain area and a crime to have no place to live'.
Apartheid led to growing resistance, which brought greater oppression and a reign of terror by the security establishment. It is this struggle for freedom that is the focus of the Apartheid Museum at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg.
Set on 7 hectares of superbly landscaped grounds, this historical museum has 22 exhibition areas designed by a team of curators, filmmakers and historians. Film footage, text panels and artefacts are arranged in such a way as to recreate the experience of what it was like under apartheid.
The R80-million complex includes the following themes: Pillars of the Constitution, Race Classification, Migrant Journeys to Johannesburg and the social and political forces that gave birth to apartheid.
The latest display is the Mandela Exhibition, broken up into the following sub-themes: Character, Comrade, Leader, Prisoner, Negotiator and Statesman. It is an intriguing life-map of South Africa's greatest son.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
How to get here
From Joahannesburg, drive south on the M1 and turn off at Exit 7 - Booysens. Look for the Ormonde signs and slip onto Kimberley Minor Road, turning right onto Northern Park Way. You can print out a map of directions from the listed Apartheid Museum website.
Around the area
Opposite the museum is Gold Reef City - a theme park, amusement park and casino. You may need to indulge in some frivolous entertainment after visiting the museum.
Nearby Soweto hosts tours as well as the Hector Pieterson Memorial
Tours to do
A Guided Apartheid Museum Tour
Gold Reef City Underground Tour
Parktown Heritage Tours
Get around
You could easily drive yourself to the museum, but it would be more rewarding and informative to be part of a day tour to the museum and, possibly, Soweto itself.
What will it cost
R55 for adults; R04 for students, children and pensioners. Guided tours are an additional R5 per person and must be booked in advance.
Length of stay
A full day is needed to full explore this museum.
What to pack
Bring your camera to photograph the unforgettable displays in the museum.
Where to stay
The 4-star Gold Reef City Casino Hotel is situated directly opposite the Apartheid Museum. Otherwise Johannesburg has numerous accommodation options to suit all budgets.
What to eat
There's a choice of five restaurants nearby: Back O’ The Moon for delicious steaks and seafood; Nazzaro’s authentic Italian cuisine; The Boston BBQ offers a scrumptious buffet; Fishmonger for seafood; and Gasoline Alley for light snacks or a meal on the go.
Best buys
The museum has a shop where you can buy local history books and apartheid memorabilia.