Paarl arson suspect faces court after hospital fire devastation

The 35-year-old man who has been arrested and charged with arson is set to appear in the Paarl Magistrate's Court on Thursday. 

His arrest follows a fire that broke out at Paarl Hospital on Tuesday, causing significant damage, particularly to the Outpatient department.

As authorities work to assess the full extent of the damage and its financial implications, parts of the hospital are being reopened in stages. However, repairs are expected to take a considerable amount of time.

Police spokesperson, Constable Ndakhe Gwala, confirmed the arrest and that he would be making an appearance in court on Thursday.

“Paarl detectives are investigating a case of arson following an incident that occurred at a hospital in Paarl at around 11:00 on Tuesday, where a fire broke out,” she said.

“A 35-year-old male suspect was apprehended for questioning and later detained. He will appear in the Paarl Magistrate’s court on Thursday, January 29. No injuries were reported; all people safely evacuated the building. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.”

Earlier, Councillor Stephen Korabie, Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, and the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, confirmed the cause behind the blaze was an electric car which was parked adjacent to the building and that patients had to be evacuated, with several undergoing operations or who were in active labour being transferred to nearby facilities. 

Drakenstein Municipality said occupants of the ground, first, and second floors of the hospital were safely evacuated while the Outpatient Department sustained extensive damage.

Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, visited the hospital a day after the fire and was joined by Councillor Korabie and said patients returned to their wards once it was safe to do so and detailed the repair process.

“While the Outpatient Department has sustained significant damage and repairs will take time, I want to reassure the public that Paarl Hospital remains open and operational. Anyone who needs emergency care will be treated.”

She added that some elective procedures may experience delays as teams carefully reorganise services to ensure patient safety and continuity of care.

“To speed up the recovery process, additional cleaning teams have been brought in to deep-clean and prepare areas that have already been assessed and declared safe,” said Wenger.

“As these assessments continue, more sections of the hospital are being reopened in a phased and carefully managed way.”

“Our teams are working closely together to restore services as quickly and safely as possible.. “While some services will resume within the hospital, others may be temporarily provided from alternative sites to make sure patients continue to receive the care they need while repairs are underway.”

Commenting on the situation, Korabie, said, “Yesterday’s (Tuesday) fire was a masterclass in how communities, government and emergency services should respond in a crisis. I want to thank the outstanding emergency teams who brought order to a chaotic situation with speed and professionalism. Every sphere of government worked together seamlessly, prioritising both the healthcare of patients and the safety of the broader community.

"This is what it looks like when the government truly works for its residents. As our team work on finding ways to reestablish services as quickly and safely as possible, we encourage residents to join the Paarl Hospital’s WhatsApp Channel which will continue to provide up to date and accurate information."

Last year, Wenger, tabled the Department’s 2025/26 Budget. With a total allocation of R32 billion for the 2025/26 financial year.

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Cape Argus