District Six Museum

The District Six Museum is an educational experience for both adults and children. Visitors will learn about the once colourful hub for musicians, artists, and ‘good’ and ‘bad’ gangsters, that faced a 20-year-long period of demolition and forced removals during the apartheid era.

Engage with photographs, recordings, and testimonials, which offer further insight into the turbulence of apartheid. In between exhibitions, share the stories of District Six with engaging and friendly staff members, the majority of whom were displaced residents themselves and have intimate and personal stories to share.

The ground floor of the museum is covered by a large street map of District Six on which are handwritten notes by former residents indicating where their demolished homes once stood.

Be warned: it is impossible not to be emotionally touched when visiting this site. Nevertheless, it is an important place to visit to help create a stronger understanding of South Africa’s rich history. Make a point of joining in on a guided tour from an ex-resident of the original District Six. You will gain a real sense of what it was like for the people back in those days.

If you need a break, there is a wonderful coffee shop that offers drinks and snacks – it’s a great place to make an introduction to the Cape’s traditional sweet treat of koeksisters.