ABOUT ST JOSEPH’S

A bridge from hospital to home, where we believe that every medically fragile child has the right to excellent holistic healthcare, delivered in the spirit of Christian love and devotion.

With a Western Cape population of close to 8 million, St Joseph’s is the only non-profit institution offering this service. Located in Montana, Cape Town, it serves severely vulnerable communities. It is St Joseph’s belief that no child should be left behind because of the circumstances they were born into, or their need for ongoing care after hospital. Children should also not be confined to a hospital environment longer than necessary.

The journey of a St Joseph’s child starts at a referral hospital or a community-based facility where they are treated for a chronic or life-limiting condition. If the child is not well enough to go home after their treatment, St Joseph’s is the transitional care facility, becoming their home until they have optimally recovered. The St Joseph’s staff work closely with the referral team to optimise the recovery process.

The child’s needs are central to our thinking and practice. On average, a patient spends 6 months at St Joseph’s, receiving 24-hour nursing care, rehabilitation therapy and psycho-social support. All these services are provided free of charge.

The St Joseph’s holistic approach includes nutritional, psycho-social, logistical, educational and spiritual support to facilitate the recovery process.

The empowerment and educating of parents helps them to understand their child’s medical condition and improves medication adherence on discharge.

At St Joseph’s we believe all children should be protected and feel safe. In 2021 the Child Protection Strategy was developed.

WHY WE EXIST

There are insufficient, inadequate services for children with complex medical and rehabilitative needs who are:
• Not well enough to go home
• Not sick enough to stay in an acute hospital

Vision

St Joseph’s strives to become a Centre of Excellence in intermediate care for child and adolescent health.

Mission / Core Purpose

To provide transitional health care for medically fragile children, aligned with the needs of the time.

Values

Governance, Accountability, Honesty, Compassion and Respect

Ethos

We believe that every medically fragile child has the right to excellent holistic healthcare, delivered in the spirit of Christian love and devotion.

Stakeholders / Partners

• Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness
• Pallottine Association

Strategic Focus Areas

• Post-acute medical care
• Restorative / rehabilitation
• Palliative care • Respite care
• Augmented services

Our Journey of Care and Compassion

1935

1960s

2025

The Beginning

St Joseph’s was founded by the dedicated Pallottine Missionary Sisters who travelled from Germany to South Africa. Rooted in their mission of service, they established schools, nursery schools, sewing classes, district nursing, and orphanages. In 1935, with the vision of Catholic Bishop Francis Hennemann, five of these sisters transformed an empty presbytery in Philippi into a sanctuary for the sick. Starting with just eleven patients, the veranda became a ward for children battling tuberculosis. This humble beginning was the seed of a legacy that continues to thrive.

A Period of Growth

By 1948, St Joseph’s expanded with a two-story building and a chapel, enabling care for 135 children. The focus remained on providing long-term orthopaedic care alongside primary education, handicrafts, and vocational training. However, the Group Areas Act of the 1960s necessitated relocation, bringing St Joseph’s to its current home in Montana in 1967. At the heart of this new facility stands a striking circular chapel with its high-pointed cross—a beacon of faith and hope for the sisters, staff, and children alike.

Today

Evolving to meet the complex needs of children over the past 90 years, St Joseph’s is now a 175-bed facility offering multidisciplinary, transitional care to those with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, such as cerebral palsy, infectious diseases, traumatic brain injuries, neurology, and oncology. Over the past 80 years, St Joseph’s has been a bridge between hospital and home for over 25,000 medically fragile children. At the core of our mission is the unwavering commitment to putting the child’s needs first, providing free care in a nurturing, loving environment infused with Christian compassion.

1935

The Beginning

St Joseph’s was founded by the dedicated Pallottine Missionary Sisters who travelled from Germany to South Africa. Rooted in their mission of service, they established schools, nursery schools, sewing classes, district nursing, and orphanages. In 1935, with the vision of Catholic Bishop Francis Hennemann, five of these sisters transformed an empty presbytery in Philippi into a sanctuary for the sick. Starting with just eleven patients, the veranda became a ward for children battling tuberculosis. This humble beginning was the seed of a legacy that continues to thrive.

1960s

A Period of Growth

By 1948, St Joseph’s expanded with a two-story building and a chapel, enabling care for 135 children. The focus remained on providing long-term orthopaedic care alongside primary education, handicrafts, and vocational training. However, the Group Areas Act of the 1960s necessitated relocation, bringing St Joseph’s to its current home in Montana in 1967. At the heart of this new facility stands a striking circular chapel with its high-pointed cross—a beacon of faith and hope for the sisters, staff, and children alike.

2025

Today

Evolving to meet the complex needs of childrenover the past 90 years​, St Joseph’s is now a 175-bed facility offering multidisciplinary, transitional care to those with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, such as cerebral palsy, infectious diseases, traumatic brain injuries, neurology, and oncology. Over the past 80 years, St Joseph’s has been a bridge between hospital and home for over 25,000 medically fragile children. At the core of our mission is the unwavering commitment to putting the child’s needs first, providing free care in a nurturing, loving environment infused with Christian compassion.

St Joseph’s remains a testament to the power of faith, love, and service—a place where every child’s journey is embraced with hope and healing.