Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum, Memorial museum in Somerset West, South Africa

The Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum is a museum in Somerset West that documents the history of migrant workers in the region. The exhibitions display original artifacts from the hostel system and tell the story of these workers' living conditions.

Lwandle township was founded in 1958 to house single male migrant workers for Helderberg fruit and canning farms, with six men per hostel room. The museum opened on 1 May 2000 in the old community hall, opened by poet Sandile Dikeni, and Hostel 33 was later added. It became a province-aided museum on 25 February 2012.

The museum's name comes from the Xhosa word for sea, a reference to the nearby shore where hunter-gatherers once found food. A walking tour of the township lets visitors see crafters at work, taste traditional beer and visit other historic sites in the community.

The best time to visit is during daylight hours on weekdays when staff are present and tours are offered. It is recommended to check ahead since opening hours can vary depending on season and events.

A restored original hostel building demonstrates how four to six men had to share confined spaces. This structure allows visitors to directly understand what the actual living conditions were really like.