Iziko Slave Lodge

Very broad musuem, tells a strong story of the history of south africa and other countries involved in the slace trade routes across the globe. Definitely worth a visit, very extensive viewing material and information.

It’s a nice museum to visit and know more about slavery and apartheid and what kind of life slaves had lived during that times. There are some interesting photos and images of Cape Town from previous ages. The building itself is a historical place where hospital based and some of the slaves lived. The museum has a luck of interactive elements, so prepare to read a lot. Still it’s quite interesting and worth to visit. Maybe not the best place to go with the children due to lack of interactive things.

This is a must experience for any person travelling to Cape Town. Specially if you are white. There is still a lot of learning to do from our history so we can do better in the presence. We need more acknowledgement of our past and the privilege each of carries and we can only do this by learning. The information here is ground shaking for anyone.

I really enjoyed learning more about South African history. The staff are not rude and the atmosphere is not chaotic.

21 March 2025 (Delayed review) Wow what an informative space to be at, I wish I had more time to explore more. I must say, this requires time in order to have a full experience and to deeply learn. I am going to return again to pick up from where I left of. The place is clean and the staff is brilliant!

It is a place that all people should visit at least once. In order to know what we can achieve in the future we first need to understand and know where we come from. We had an organized tour through the museum which helped to provide context to all the different exhibitions. It is located at the entrance to the Cape Companies Gardens.

The place is Iziko Slave Lodge Museum in Cape Town, South Africa. Location: Corner of Adderley Street and Wale Street, Cape Town City Centre. This museum explores the history of slavery in South Africa, especially during the colonial era. It’s one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town and forms part of the Iziko Museums of South Africa.

After reading The Truth About Cape Slavery, my husband and I felt compelled to visit the Iziko Slave Lodge. What we discovered there was both deeply disturbing and profoundly important. South Africa’s system of slavery was similar in many ways to that of the United States—chattel slavery, total ownership over other human beings, including children born into bondage. But what struck me most was a uniquely chilling detail: during the early period, all enslaved people were owned not by individuals, but by the Dutch East India Company (VOC). These men, women, and children were classified as corporate property. deployed as company assets. That realization hit hard. As someone who spent years as a corporate executive, I’ve always had an aversion to the term “human resources.” I never quite understood why it unsettled me, until now. Seeing how humans were literally reduced to entries on a balance sheet made the connection painfully clear. It’s a legacy that lingers today in how people are often valued for their productivity rather than their humanity. In many ways, we’re still untangling from systems that give companies more rights than the people who work for them. Despite the sadness and discomfort this visit stirred in me, I believe it’s essential. We must face the hard truths of history to truly understand where we are today, and where we might be headed if we don’t remain vigilant. Every museum like this, every book read, helps lift the veil a little more. South Africa, inspired by Mandela’s belief in reconciliation through truth, has embraced the difficult work of remembering. The Slave Lodge stands as a somber but necessary part of that journey. While a lot of the exhibits are not working so this museum could use some maintenance help, I left with a heavy heart, but also with a deeper understanding, and for that, I’m grateful.