Paarl Hospital restoration nears completion months ahead of schedule

The restoration of Paarl Hospital following the devastating fire in January 2026 is now nearing completion, with major infrastructure repairs completed and the phased return of services to restored areas well underway. The project is progressing well ahead of the initially anticipated 12-month timeline, with key restoration work completed in just six months.

Mireille Wenger, Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, said the progress made over the past six months reflected the extraordinary commitment of healthcare teams who worked tirelessly to ensure continuity of care while restoration work was undertaken.

“When the fire broke out in January, the initial expectation was that restoration could take up to 12 months. Instead, through a tremendous effort from our teams, major restoration work has been completed in just six months and services are already returning to repaired areas of the hospital,” said Minister Wenger.

“This is an extraordinary achievement. I want to particularly thank the Department’s Infrastructure team, hospital management, frontline healthcare workers, contractors and support teams whose dedication, professionalism and resilience made this progress possible. Their efforts ensured that Paarl Hospital continued to serve its community while repairs were undertaken at pace.”

The Western Cape Government made R67 million available to support the restoration and strengthening of Paarl Hospital following the fire.

All major infrastructure work has now been completed, and most equipment and furniture have already been delivered and installed. While some specialist medical equipment is still expected to arrive over the coming months, these timelines were anticipated and incorporated into the broader restoration plan.

A number of outpatient and specialist services have already moved back into the restored areas of the hospital, with the remaining specialist services expected to return by the first week of June 2026.

“This work has always been about more than repairing a building. It is about restoring access to care and support the health and dignity of every person who depends on Paarl Hospital. 

“I want to thank the Paarl Hospital community, our patients and their families for their patience and support during this period. We are deeply grateful to every resident who worked with our teams as services were temporarily relocated and restored,” concluded Minister Wenger.

Media Enquiries:
Robyn Thomson 
Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness 
Email: robyn.thomson@westerncape.gov.za