After a long period of adjusting to the new normal, we are pleased to announce the recommencement of three of our outreach programs as follows, Grade 13, Day at the Museum and Sabalala Nolwazi. These programs were put on hold due to the ongoing COVID pandemic however with the ease of restrictions and strict following of COVID protocols, we can once again provide these programs to the public.

A brief description of the programs:

Grade 13 Programme
The first of the programs to be piloted in March 2021, has been well received with 119 students attending lessons on the Civil Rights Movement in the month of March. The main aim of the program is to assist individuals looking to upgrade their matric history results. The Grade 13 program provides structured and detailed lessons focusing on History Paper 1 (The Cold War in Europe, Civil Rights Movement, Black Power Movement), History Paper 2 (Black Consciousness Movement, Road to Democracy and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission). As an added advantage the program provides a guided tour in the Museum, on the sections covered in History Examination Paper 2, and gives the learners further clarity on the subject.

Sabalala Nolwazi (Spread Knowledge)
Sabalala Nolwazi is a two-fold program, offered both in-house and as an outreach program, to primary schools focusing on Natural Sciences and Social Sciences. The program supplements lessons offered by teachers, through arts and crafts, live experiments, and the use of artefacts from the KZN Museum, which allows the lessons to be practical and engaging for the learners.

Day at the Museum
An in-house program focusing on high school learners studying history at the FET phase (Grades 10-12). The program is an all-day activity that provides an all-inclusive learning experience, comprising of a presentation, DVD screening and a gallery tour is given on grade and content-specific history topics.

Should you wish to enquire further about these programs, kindly contact the Museum on 033 341 0500 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Once lost but now found: a rare snake and endemic to South Africa Montaspis gilvomuculata

This rare cream-spotted snake is endemic to the Drakensberg Mountains in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Only four specimens have ever been found in this region between 1967 and 1991. Between 1991 to date, no other specimen has been spotted or collected.

Unfortunately, one snake escaped and disappeared during its captivity and only three specimens are currently housed in collections in South Africa. However, the specimen in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum is the oldest of all and was collected in 1967 in the Giant’s Castle Game Reserve by Z. Grafton, but the exact site remains unknown. Previously, this specimen was requested by various researchers but was never found in the Herpetology Collections of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum until late last year 2020.

During our collection care exercise, the snake was found ‘mixed’ with frog specimens in the Herpetology Collection and this explained the reason why it was never found. Once thought to have been lost but now found, the snake is currently placed in the correct location. This excitement has spread and Matabaro Ziganira who takes care of the Collection has already received inquiries about the snake and he hopes it will attract the attention of more researchers nationally and internationally.

by

Matabaro Ziganira
Research Technician (DNS)