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TThe implementation of apartheid and white minority rule, as well as South Africa's peaceful transition to a non-racial democratic society, are major stories of the 20th century. This is what makes the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg a must-stop for tourists visiting South Africa.
Visitors to the museum are greeted with a very real reflection of what it was like to live in a racially segregated society. The museum has two entrances labelled 'White' and 'Non-white', and depending on which ticket you are issued, you will be ushered through one of the two.
The laws that governed which entrances people could use or which bus to catch were classed as 'petty apartheid', but there were far more serious overtones to this system of racial classification. Under apartheid, the majority of people in the country were dispossessed of land, economic opportunity and their democratic right to choose their own leaders, simply because they were black.
When the National Party took over leadership of the country in 1948, it began entrenching racial segregation under the auspices of the South African Bureau for Racial Affairs. Before long, racial laws, such as the Population Registration Act, which assigned every citizen to a racial category, and the Group Areas Act, which enforced separate urban areas for race groups, came into being.
Other repressive measures included making striking illegal and limiting freedom of movement for non-whites through curfews and pass books. Apartheid led to growing resistance among the disenfranchised, which in turn led to more punitive measures from the state, culminating in several states of emergency in the 1980s.
It was the unbanning of the African National Congress and the release of its leader, Nelson Mandela, in February 1990 by former president FW de Klerk that heralded a new era for the country and the start of negotiations for a more just dispensation. Both men were awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for their role in ensuring South Africa's transition was peaceful.
Throughout, Mandela emerged as the man able to lead the country out of the political wilderness and unite all population groups. Consequently, it's no surprise that the most popular of the more than 22 displays is the Mandela exhibition, a life-map of South Africa's greatest son and world humanitarian icon.
South Africa's elections of 1994 ushered in a new era of democracy.
Did You Know?
Travel tips & planning info
Who to contact
The Apartheid Museum
Tel: +27 (0)11 309 4700
Email: info@apartheidmuseum.org
How to get here
The museum is next to Gold Reef City on the corner of Northern Park Way and Gold Reef Road, Ormonde, Johannesburg. It's easily accessible off the De Villiers Graaff highway (take Exit 7 and follow the Gold Reef City signs).
Best time to visit
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm (closed Mondays). The museum is also closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Things to do
Gold Reef City is a theme and amusement park that will keep the kids entertained. Here you can also take a trip down a gold mine (stop No 6 on the City Sightseeing bus route).
From the Gold Reef City casino, you can catch the City Sightseeing bus and get an overview of Johannesburg. The company also offers a 2-hour whistle-stop tour of the township of Soweto as an add-on to its regular route.
What to pack
Comfortable shoes and your camera!
Where to stay
Johannesburg has a wide variety of accommodation options, from B&Bs through to 5-star hotels.
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South Africa on social media
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