Paarl Hospital is steadily returning to full operation after being severely damaged in a fire earlier this year.

The fire, which broke out in January 2026, forced several departments to close and led to the temporary relocation of patients and services. However, restoration work has progressed faster than expected, with most major repairs now complete.

Also read: No injuries after section of Paarl hospital goes up in flames
 

Mireille Wenger, Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, confirmed that the project, originally expected to take up to 12 months, has made significant progress in just six months.

“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.”

The department says it expects services to fully return in June, as specialist equipment is still being installed.

“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,” Wenger said.