"KwaMuhle Museum is a museum about power and powerlessness and the struggle for dignity by ordinary people. Let this never be forgotten. Let us be mindful of the abuses of the past and celebrate the human capacity in all its diversity and richness to overcome."

Once the office of the notorious Department of Native Affairs (on the fringe of the Durban CBD), the Kwa Muhle Museum provides a vital link with the city`s apartheid past. Inside the building are a number of powerful displays, which provide a fascinating insight into the life of South Africa`s then "second class citizens".

The misery and absurdity foisted upon African people through a web of heinous legislation such as the pass laws, influx control and the beerhall system are dramatically portrayed. Of special interest is a permanent exhibition on the history of Cato Manor, the informal settlement behind the Berea, which is now the site of one of the new South Africa`s most ambitious urban renewal programmes. The Zulu treasures and artifacts on display portray the indomitable spirit and resilience of the African heritage, which has survived a turbulent history.

In addition to the permanent exhibits, there is also gallery space for displays and temporary exhibitions - from beadwork to photography. Through these means, as well as through education research and an active event programme (special tours for school and youth groups etc), the KwaMuhle Museum strives to be a dynamic and representative forum for understanding.

(Source: www.durban.gov.za)