The District Six Museum

The District Six Museum

Up until the 1970s, District Six was home to almost a tenth of the city of Cape Town�s population. In 1965, the apartheid government, as it had done in Sophiatown in 1957, declared District Six �white�. More than 60,000 people were forcibly uprooted and relocated onto the barren plains of the Cape Flats. In the process, over a century of history, of community life, of solidarity amongst the poor and of achievement against great odds, was imperiled.

The District Six Museum Foundation was established in 1989 and launched as a museum in 1994 to keep alive the memories of District Six and displaced people everywhere. It came into being as a vehicle for advocating social justice, as a space for reflection and contemplation and as an institution for challenging the distortions and half-truths which propped up the history of Cape Town and South Africa. As an independent space where the forgotten understandings of the past are resuscitated, where different interpretations of that past are facilitated through its collections, exhibitions and education programmes, the Museum is committed to telling the stories of forced removals and assisting in the reconstitution of the community of District Six and Cape Town by drawing on a heritage of non-racialism, non-sexism, anti-class discrimination and the encouragement of debate.

General Information

Opening Hours from 09h00 - 16h00 Mondays - Saturdays (Sundays are by appointment only)

The Museum caters for individuals as well as group and school tours. Trained museum guides lead visitors through the Museum and provide historical information and commentary as well as answer questions

The Bookshop

On the 10th December 1994 our little shop consisted of the Streets Exhibition poster, a table, and one book entitled �The Struggle for District Six�. Soon afterwards there was not enough space on the table - and so the museum built itself a small bookshop during the restoration of the building that was started in 2000.

Today our Little Wonder Store Bookshop offers a broad, but specialised selection of more than 60 books about District Six, forced removals and apartheid. It�s one of the best selections of these kinds of books in Cape Town. Our books are unique because we not only promote local writers, but also offer an educational service to educational institutions, academics and students. Staff members Linda Fortune and Noor Ebrahim sell not only the printed history of District Six, but each have also penned the story of their own lives in this dynamic part of Cape Town.

A selection of more than 30 historical postcards and other souvenirs complete the selection of what�s on offer. In addition to this, the Little Wonder Store Bookshop doubles as the starting point for most externally-operated tours. For your convenience we gladly accept major credit cards such as Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, MasterCard Electronic and Maestro.

The Coffee Shop

Sandwiched between the Main Exhibition Hall and the Memorial Hall, our Coffee Shop is open from 09h00 - 16h00 Monday - Friday. While listening to hostess Menisha Collins sharing her experiences and anecdotes of life in District Six, visitors can expect to enjoy a fine selection of homemade sandwiches, pies, quiches and tarts - and of course, our very own traditional koeksisters. The perfect place to meet old friends and make new, our Coffee Shop is a hive of activity and laughter. Booking for large groups is recommended.

The ideal venue for small intimate functions including press releases, book launches and poetry readings, the Memorial Hall and adjoining Coffee Shop is available for hire to external organisations for special events

Contact Details

Telephone: +27-(0)21 4618745

Email address:
info@districtsix.co.za