Museum studies in South Africa have predominately focused on addressing issues of politics and practice of museum displays and exhibitions, particularly in the period following the 1994 South African elections. These studies have led to the transformation of many past museum displays and exhibits. They have also opened up new research opportunities within the field of museum studies, such as the current study on social viability and economic sustainability of South African museums. In this research report I assess a range of museum operational models in and around Johannesburg and make recommendations about the best current operational model and on the potential model for future developments of culture and heritage museums in Johannesburg. Recommendations on some of the strategies that museums in and around Johannesburg need to adopt in order to develop further their social responsibility projects are given, based on my experience of how museums in Washington, D.C raised alternative funds towards such projects. The Section 21 Company model is seen as the best current museum operational model and has potential for future museum developments in Johannesburg.