Frontpage Gallery

Vision & Mission

Our Vision

To develop, preserve and promote the histories and cultures of South Africans in order to ensure social cohesion and nation building.

Our Mission

To develop and promote cultural heritage in South Africa through collection, conservation, research, education, exhibition and entering into beneficial partnerships with our stakeholders in order to assist in social and economic development.

Ncome Museum, Nquthu

Both sides of the story

The Ncome-Blood River heritage site is probably one of the most unique battlefields in South Africa. The site witnessed a major battle between the Voortrekkers and amaZulu on 16 December 1838, and is named after the nearby river known as ‘Ncome’ in isiZulu and ‘Bloedrivier’ in Afrikaans.

The site is unique in that it has two museums in close proximity re-interpreting the same events. Visitors are therefore exposed to different interpretations and points of view.

The Ncome Museum building was designed in the shape of buffalo horns, which was the formation, initiated by King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, in which the Zulu army attacked.

The Museum came into being in 1999 as part of the National Government’s Legacy project of preserving the histories of all people of South Africa.