Apartheid Museum

There are some places that leave a lasting impression on you long after you walk out the door. The Apartheid Museum is one of those places.

Having lived in Johannesburg for decades, I’m almost ashamed to admit that I had never visited the museum before. It had always been on my bucket list, but I kept putting it off. Maybe because we learn so much about apartheid in school, read about it in textbooks, and watch films based on that painful chapter in our history, it can feel like we already understand it.

But nothing prepares you for walking through those gates - the experience felt deeply emotional. The museum represents a rich and painful history, but it also tells a story of victory, resilience and the strength of South Africans who endured unimaginable hardship and still fought for freedom.

The vibe 

I visited on a Saturday, and the museum was busy. What stood out to me was how many international visitors there were, something I’ve heard is quite common. It was a reminder that South Africa’s story has resonated far beyond just our country. 

A tour guide takes visitors through the museum, walking you through the corridors and exhibitions and unpacking how apartheid took root in South Africa. You see the faces of those who helped enforce segregation, but alongside that, you witness the resistance, the courage and the long road toward democracy.

As people moved through the museum's corridors, the mood visibly shifted - you could see it on the faces. Some visitors stood in silence reading every detail on the walls, while others paused longer in certain rooms, visibly moved by what they were taking in.

You could also feel the emotion among everyone visiting that day. 

The atmosphere throughout the museum felt heavy and tense, but in a meaningful way.

More than anything, the journey feels like stepping directly into history.

The tour 

The tour takes about 2 hours and is incredibly extensive. It goes beyond what we learned in school. Being in Johannesburg while taking in that history made it feel even more powerful. This city carries so much of that legacy. Many of the battles were fought on this soil. So many sacrifices were made in Soweto. It is also the city that gave the world iconic leaders like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Walking through the museum’s halls and seeing the names of those whose lives were taken in the struggle was emotional. There are powerful photographs, video installations and exhibits that bring those years to life in a way books never could.

One of the most difficult parts of the visit for me was seeing the prison and solitary confinement displays and reflecting on the conditions many political prisoners endured. Standing in those spaces and imagining the isolation, the hunger and the injustice was heartbreaking.

Another moment that stayed with me was entering a room filled with hundreds of ropes hanging from the ceiling, symbolising lives lost during the struggle. 

There is also an exhibit displaying weapons used during that time, an unsettling reminder of how violence shaped so many lives and tore families apart. Children were lost, mothers were taken, fathers were forcefully removed from their loved ones, friends, and spouses, and many others were brutally killed by the system. 

The museum also features short films and footage from the struggle years, including clips from the Truth and Reconciliation hearings. Watching those moments unfold on screen while standing in that space was incredibly moving.

I also spent time in the Nelson Mandela Exhibition at the Apartheid Museum, which offers a deeper look into the life and legacy of South Africa’s first democratic president. 

Why I recommend it

What stayed with me towards the end of the tour was how easy it can be to enjoy the freedom we have today and forget what it took to get here.

A visit to the museum felt like an important reminder- to be kinder, to treat one another with dignity, and to keep equality and Ubuntu at the centre of how we live. It reminded me that the sacrifices made should never be forgotten or taken for granted.

Throughout the museum, there are quotes from Nelson Mandela and other struggle leaders, words that gave birth to the freedom we enjoy today. 

On a lighter note, after the emotional experience, there is a restaurant on-site where visitors can sit down, reflect, and take it all in over a meal. It offers African cuisine and dishes inspired by different cultures, which felt like a fitting ending to such a meaningful visit.

Visiting the Apartheid Museum was emotional, heavy and deeply reflective. 

But it was also necessary.

It is one of Johannesburg’s treasures and a place every South African should experience at least once, not only to understand our history, but to remember the resilience that carried this country forward and the responsibility we all share in shaping what comes next.

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