Introduction

The Workers’ Museum in Newtown, Johannesburg offers a unique and important glimpse into the history of South Africa’s migrant workforce. It was masterminded by local architect Henry Paine and his team, who aimed to provide a balanced representation of this tragic aspect of South African history without sensationalizing it.



About the Museum

Housed in an old migrant labour hostel compound, the museum provides a detailed look at the lives of the workers who lived there. Visitors are able to see the original dormitories, concrete bunks, and punishment room, which reveal the hardships faced by these workers under the migrant labour system.

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The men who lived in the compound were just a few of the many thousands of migrant workers who were recruited from throughout Southern Africa to work in mines, towns, and factories. They were forced to leave their families behind in rural areas and each night they returned to the cramped and controlled conditions of the dormitories.

South Africa’s economy was heavily dependent on this migrant workforce, many of whom were from outside the country and less likely to cause “trouble” for the establishment. The Workers’ Museum serves as a reminder of the inhumane conditions, strict discipline, and high cost of the migrant labour system.

Physical Location

Tourist Experiences

Make a trip of it and visit some of the other recommended museums, tourist attractions and experiences in the area.

Conclusion

Despite its small size, the museum does a thorough job of presenting the history of South Africa’s migrant workforce, and visitors are likely to spend about an hour there to fully appreciate its exhibits and the impact it has on the history of the country.