My “67 seconds” – Tapped into history

Two weeks ago, the Saturday ahead of the well celebrated Mandela Day, I visited the Apartheid Museum, south of Johannesburg next to the Gold Reef City Theme Park. It has always been on my list since the pre Covid days.

My follow ups were in vain for the better part of last year due to it's temporary closure.

This time as I was dropping off my daughter at the Theme Park, I realised the museum was open to the public again, so I made an impromptu check in - the best use of my time.

What I thought was going to be a quick 67 seconds, easily turned into three and half hours. I was relaxed and didn’t rush through the museum after all the kids were out having fun with friends, so this made a great time out for myself. I dated myself proper.

Made enquiries and was issued with a classified ticket as “non-white”. I wanted to question the classification but decided to oblige and enter on the “non-white” side.

As I walked into the museum, I was welcomed by a variety of exhibitions, giving one perception into the Apartheid system and its laws.

What caught my attention is the well-placed Pillar of the constitution. The seven pillars represent Equality, Respect, Freedom, Diversity, Democracy, Responsibility and Reconciliation.

The museum itself is one of the most well thought out museums I have ever visited. There is a start and end point. It does an amazing job of telling the history of South Africa and the system of Apartheid. It is indeed a remarkable representation of the past that left a scar in many people’s hearts. I too felt the pain as I walked through the different exhibitions; I listened to the old clips and relived the horrors of the Apartheid system through the pictures, videos and other artefacts displayed in the museum.

 Learning about life under the apartheid is a hard pill to swallow, one visual of naked miners left me numb; seeing how our fore-fathers were treated; stripped naked during the strike. The strike that later transformed the African politics and led to birth of the Mine Workers Union.

Every story told is extremely powerful and can be overwhelming. You can easily spend the entire day in the museum.

I was fascinated by Tata Mandela’s Red Mercedes and sadly couldn’t take pictures as they are not allowed inside the building.

Having had episodes of not so pleasant car issues, resulting in me having to ask a friend, of a friend, that knows another friend to help me get my car back; not only get my car back but in a suited cowboy style from my “trusted” mechanic that went gangster on me. I had developed conflicting thoughts about my car, whether to keep or let it go.

But seeing this Red Merc 500SE, it really reignited my love for Kai and I promised myself I’m going to clean it up… and it is for keeps – call it a classic car!

I just need a proper reliable mechanic that can sort it out and a panel beater to restore it (send recommendations in the comments please 😊)

Anyway, having experienced this emotional journey into South Africa’s past, I needed to pause and reflect, so I took a walk up the hill into the grassland, the space was open and inviting.

I later visited their shop and bought myself Mme Ellen Kuzwayo’s “Call me Woman” and had the most scrumptious chips (French fries) with coffee at the Truth café.

Whilst enjoying my book and learning more about the past through Mme Ellen’s experiences, I challenge you to make a turn to the Apartheid Museum. I think it is essential for everyone who wants to comprehend and experience what South Africa was really like. Please do not forget to take your kids with. As I write I am already planning my next visit with the Guccis.

Let it be a Wondrous Wednesday

Move past, the past.

Learn from it and lets do better.

Love Always

Likha~Biso❤️