Cape Town Museum

28/08/2026

Last weekend, learners from seven schools across the larger Cape Town area took part in a speech competition focusing on “Museums Uniting a Divided World”. Organised annually by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, this regional round was held at the First Nations Heritage Centre in Observatory.

Learners presented thoughtful and inspiring speeches on the topics of History, Memory and Healing; Youth Voice and Belonging; Access and Inclusion; and Culture and Understanding. Our wonderful judges - Benita Alard, Christian Swarbreck and Sivuyile Pharela – had a hard time choosing the winners, but in the end the 1st place went to Siphesihle Moses (Sophumelela High School), 2nd place went to Thato Moaholi (Fezeka High School), and in 3rd place the winner was Aluta Arosi (Oakland High School). Well done to all the participants and congratulations to the winners!

The winners of this regional round will be invited to compete in the provincial round, which will take place in October at the Worcester Museum in Worcester.

We would also like to thank our MC, Yongisipho Mtimkhulu, for guiding us through the engaging speeches and discussions; and our supporters - the City of Cape Town (Rebecca Smart), Ward 86 Councillor Xolani Diniso, and In2Food.

21/08/2026

09/08/2026

With today being Women's Day in South Africa, please check out our digital exhibition “Impactful Women”. It showcases the lives of 12 extraordinary women who lived from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Most of them either lived or worked in Cape Town or had their roots in the Cape, and they all made significant contributions to South African society in diverse fields.

This collection of portraits seeks to ensure that they are remembered and celebrated. There are, of course, many other women who have made - or still make - an impact on Cape Town and surrounding areas. We’d love to hear from you in the comments below which ones you think deserve recognition and celebration.

You can access the exhibition in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa here https://www.capetownmuseum.org.za/people/impactful-women

Image credits:
A 17th century sketch of a Khoekhoe women from the World Digital Library.
Sketch of Dr James Barry from Welcome Collection.
Zainunnisa “Cissie” Gool from Bailey’s African History Archive.
A drawing of Lady Anne Barnard, 1783 from Western Cape Archives and Records Service (E2848).

29/07/2026

Come visit the latest exhibition at the Cape Town Museum Memory Centre, made possible in partnership with the Cape Institute for Architecture. Entitled “District Six: People Lived Here”, it features photographs by Jansje Wissema, a Dutch photographer commissioned by the Cape Institute of Architects (now the Cape Institute for Architecture) to record District Six in the 1970s when it became clear that the government was planning to demolish the area. Her iconic images of the place and its people today remain as a powerful chronicle of the area, capturing the essence of this lost community.

The exhibition was suitably launched on Mandela Day. Invited guests learned about the photographer, the significance of this historic record, and the hopes and plans for the future of this once-vibrant suburb. Speakers included Laura Robinson, past president of the Cape Institute for Architecture and chairperson of the Cape Town Museum Management Committee; Chrischené Julius from the District 6 Museum; Heidi Erdmann, curator and member of the Friends of the Cape Town Museum; and Simone Le Grange, architect and urban designer closely involved in the redevelopment of District Six. A note of thanks to speakers and guests was given by Phindokuhle Vusani, a crucial member of the event organising team. The official ribbon-cutting was led by Lorelle Hutton, Deputy Director, Museum Services at the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.

The Cape Town Museum memory centre is situated in the Cape Medical Museum. So come view these unique historic images, share your story if you have any on District 6, and at the same time take the opportunity to view the interesting exhibitions in the Cape Medical Museum. You can find us at the Old City Hospital Complex, Portswood Road, Green Point. For more details about opening times, see https://tinyurl.com/erm9b3vt

24/06/2026

It has been a busy few days for Azra Omar, a recent BA graduate in History and Politics at the University of Cape Town. With a keen interest in the museum, heritage, and archive space, she has been job shadowing at the Museum Research and Exhibition and Museological Services unit of the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports. This included tours of the Cape Town Museum Walk-In Centre, the SA Sendinggestig Museum and the Hisense Tevolution Museum. Our staff at the Cape Town Museum had a great time hosting her.
Music credit: Arise Africa Amapiano by MANSURLINE

27/05/2026

Last week Friday, the Cape Town Museum and the Cape Medical Museum hosted a speech competition at the Cape Medical Museum premises in Green Point. Fifteen students from different schools around Cape Town participated. The event was held in celebration of International Museum Day, with this year’s theme being “Museums Uniting a Divided World”.

In line with this theme, participating learners were asked to prepare a speech that looked at how museums can help people learn about different cultures, and develop respect and empathy for other cultures. The speeches were inspiring and insightful as learners shared their thoughtful perspectives on the power of museums to unite people.

Well done to all the participants, and a special congratulations to the three winners:
1st Place: Hlumelo Tshingana from Harry Gwala High School
2nd Place: Amda Lupuzi from Harry Gwala High School
3rd Place: Sanele Tebane from Sinenjongi High School

The winning learners, together with winners from the Lwandle Museum and SA Sendinggestig Museum, will compete in the regional speech competition in August.

18/05/2026

Today, we celebrate International Museum Day and the transformative role museums can play in society. The theme for this year is “Museums Uniting a Divided World”. It highlights the potential of museums to act as bridges across cultural, social, and geopolitical divides, fostering dialogue, understanding, and peace within and between communities worldwide.

This is because museums are able to create conditions in which differences can be understood and handled with respect: by safeguarding heritage and memory, offering learning and reflection, and providing welcoming spaces where diverse voices can be heard.

One of the key missions of the Cape Town Museum is to celebrate the diverse histories and personal stories of the people of Cape Town. We believe strongly in the power of museums to bring people together, with much of our work seeking to bridge the cultural, social, and spatial divides that still exist in Cape Town today.

Visit our online exhibitions that highlight the stories and histories of some of Cape Town’s communities https://tinyurl.com/ycw6wrhn or contribute to the Cape Town Museum Mapping project https://tinyurl.com/my6s3jv6 which maps the memories and stories of Cape Town’s diverse communities.

10/05/2026

The Cape Town Museum would like to wish all mothers, grandmothers and maternal figures a Happy Mother’s Day. In celebration of those who nurture, care for and guide our children - the future of South Africa, here is a selection of artworks from the Cape Town Museum collection that speak to the theme of motherhood. This is just a small fraction of the Cape Town Museum’s art collection, which comprises over 800 artworks by well-known and lesser-known South African artists.

Featured art:
Bongani Shange, “Mother - Save the Children” (1979)
Mawande Mthini, “Mother and Child” (1989)
Walter Battiss, “Mothers and Children” (date unknown)
Tyrone Appollis, “Mother and Child” (1987)
Amos Langdown, “Two Women with Babies” (1992)
Hargreaves Ntukwana, “Women Carrying a Child” (date unknown)
Billy Mandindi, “Mother of the Twins” (1994)

24/04/2026

The Friends of the Cape Town Museum is a voluntary, membership-based group and a key stakeholder in the Cape Town Museum project. They seek to serve as an important link between the Cape Town Museum and the community, ensuring that the community are participants and not just our audience. Membership is free and simply a great opportunity to be part of the process of shaping the Cape Town Museum’s narrative.

To sign up to the Friends, visit https://www.capetownmuseum.org.za/friends-of-ctm If you are interested in becoming an executive committee member, we’d also love to hear from you. You can contact us via the email found on the same link.