- Opened in 1931 as Africa’s first dedicated children’s hospital.
- Shut down by the apartheid government in 1984 (around the early 1980s) because staff treated children of all races in a “whites-only” beachfront area.
- It fell into severe disrepair for decades afterward.
Current Status (as of May 2026)
The KwaZulu-Natal Children’s Hospital Trust (a public-private partnership with the KZN Department of Health) has been leading renovations since around 2009–2011. Progress includes:
- Outpatient services reopened in 2013, including a Neurodevelopment Assessment Centre that has treated over 45,000 children for conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, and other neurodevelopmental issues.
- New centres such as the Victor Daitz Paediatric Psychology Centre (for counselling and therapy).
- Ongoing restoration of the main buildings, including the facade and some wards.
- Parts of the facility are in use, while other sections are still being renovated.
A major new article today (31 May 2026) highlights the hospital “reclaiming its heartbeat,” with continued fundraising and work on future phases like a 36-bed child and adolescent in-patient mental health unit.
They’ve raised about 30% of the ~R519 million needed for full completion. The trust handles fundraising, renovation, and equipping, then hands sections over to the Department of Health for staffing and operation.
You can check the latest on their official site: kznchildrenshospital.org.
It’s a positive, ongoing revival story for specialised paediatric care in KZN, especially near the beachfront in Durban. If you’re asking because of local news or personal interest, feel free to share more details!
