Joburg’s historical sites offer visitors a journey through some of South Africa’s most defining moments. Through carefully preserved architecture, curated exhibitions, and guided narratives, each attraction serves as both a classroom and a memorial, ensuring that the stories of hardship, resistance, and reconciliation remain alive for future generations.
The Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum is recognized as the world’s first museum dedicated exclusively to chronicling the history and impact of apartheid in South Africa. The museum’s exhibits convey the human stories behind the laws and policies. Provocative film footage, striking photographs, informative text panels, and original artefacts illustrate daily life during this period and the courageous struggles against it. Beyond its role as a site of remembrance, the Apartheid Museum is a beacon of hope and reconciliation.
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill is a living museum that tells the story of our country’s journey to democracy. The prison once incarcerated a number of historical freedom fighters including Nelson Mandela, Joe Slovo, Mahatma Ghandi and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Today, it is home to the Constitutional Court of South Africa, symbolizing the nation’s commitment to human rights. The site also offers a diverse programme of public events, educational activities, and permanent exhibitions that explore the evolution of constitutionalism in our country.
Hector Pieterson Memorial & Museum
Conceived as both a memorial and an educational centre, the Hector Pieterson Museum is located in Orlando West, Soweto, a short distance from where he was killed during the June 16, 1976 uprising against apartheid education policies. Inside, visitors get to journey through the events of that time through insightful exhibits featuring television footage, oral testimonies, pictures as well as historical documents.
Vilakazi Street
Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world where two Nobel Peace Prize laureates once lived: Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Beyond its historical significance, it’s also a popular destination for both local and international visitors. The street is a vibrant hub of contemporary South African culture where you’ll find authentic eateries, markets and a range of cultural experiences.
National Museum of Military History
The South African National Museum of Military History preserves and presents our country’s military heritage, with a particular emphasis on South Africa’s role in the Second World War. The museum’s displays include authentic World War I and II fighter aircrafts, some of which are the only surviving examples of their kind, alongside an array of Defence Force tanks, medals, military insignia and uniforms. It also serves as the symbolic and spiritual home for South African soldiers, honouring those who have fallen in service to our nation.