The Haunting Mystery of Kempton Park Hospital: Inside South Africa's Abandoned Medical Facility
The mysterious closure of Kempton Park Hospital continues to baffle South Africans nearly three decades after its sudden shutdown. Located just 30 minutes from Johannesburg, this nine-story, 350-bed medical facility once served as a cornerstone of healthcare in the region. Without warning, on December 26, 1996, the hospital stopped accepting new patients, and by 1997, staff had vacated the premises entirely—leaving behind millions in medical equipment and thousands of confidential patient files.
What makes this abandonment particularly puzzling is the complete lack of transparency from the South African government. Despite initially claiming the closure was temporary due to "acute staff shortages," officials later provided no explanation for the permanent shutdown. Today, the quarantined building stands as a time capsule, guarded 24/7 yet frequently breached by urban explorers and curious locals who document their findings. Adding to the hospital's troubling legacy are revelations about unqualified practitioners who worked there, including one individual who posed as a pediatrician for years with devastating consequences for many young patients.
Key Takeaways
The nine-story Kempton Park Hospital closed suddenly in 1996-1997 without official explanation, abandoning valuable equipment and patient records.
Government officials initially denied plans to permanently close the facility, contradicting their cost-saving restructuring initiatives for Gauteng healthcare.
Security guards continue to monitor the abandoned hospital decades later, though the site has become accessible to urban explorers through unofficial means.
The Enigma of Kempton Park Hospital
Kempton Park Hospital stands as one of South Africa's most bewildering abandoned structures. This nine-story facility, located just 30 minutes from Johannesburg, once served as a vital medical center with 350 beds and cutting-edge equipment. The hospital operated as a community cornerstone until December 26, 1996, when it abruptly stopped accepting new patients.
In 1997, staff vacated the premises without explanation, leaving behind millions in medical equipment and thousands of confidential patient files. The South African government designated the building as quarantined and surrounded it with fencing, but offered no official reasoning for its closure.
Despite 24-hour security guards who are reportedly susceptible to bribes, the abandoned hospital has become an unofficial tourist attraction. Many visit to explore claims of paranormal activity, while others are drawn to the mystery of its sudden shutdown.
One disturbing chapter in Kempton Park's history involves Andre Esther Huisen, who posed as a pediatrician there from 1982 to 1990 despite having no medical qualifications. His negligence resulted in multiple infant deaths and injuries.
Notable Cases Involving the Fake Doctor:
A baby developed cerebral palsy after receiving four lumbar punctures at just four months old
An infant suffered brain damage and kidney failure following his treatment
Multiple cases where he misdiagnosed conditions, performed unnecessary procedures, and prescribed improper medications
Esther Huisen was eventually convicted of three counts of culpable homicide, impersonation, and fraud, receiving an 18-year prison sentence. This scandal raised serious questions about the hospital's hiring practices and oversight.
The timing of the hospital's closure remains puzzling. The Esther Huisen scandal occurred in 1992, while the hospital closed in 1996. According to a November 15, 1996 report, there was controversy regarding planned restructuring of Gauteng hospitals aimed at cost reduction.
Contradictions in official statements add to the mystery. In December 1996, the Gauteng Department of Health claimed the hospital wasn't accepting new patients due to "acute staff shortages" but denied plans for closure. Yet by 1997, the facility was completely shut down.
The abandonment of valuable medical equipment and infrastructure designed to last a century seems to contradict the government's stated goal of financial savings. To this day, the true reason for Kempton Park Hospital's sudden closure remains unexplained.
Kempton Park Hospital's Operational Legacy
Foundation and Public Significance
Kempton Park Hospital stood as a significant healthcare institution located approximately 30 minutes from Johannesburg, South Africa. Established in the late 1970s, the nine-story medical facility contained 350 beds and served as a vital healthcare center for the surrounding communities. The hospital was equipped with advanced medical technology and received substantial financial investment to maintain its operations. Despite limited documentation about its history, Kempton Park Hospital was widely recognized as an essential medical resource that served thousands of patients throughout its operational years.
Unexpected Shutdown
The hospital's closure occurred under mysterious circumstances on December 26, 1996, when it suddenly stopped accepting new patients. Staff were relocated during 1997 without any formal explanation from authorities. Strangely, the facility was marked as "quarantined" and subsequently fenced off, leaving behind millions in medical equipment and thousands of confidential patient records. This abrupt closure contradicted earlier statements from the Gauteng Department of Health, which had denied plans to permanently close the facility despite citing "acute staff shortages" as the reason for halting new admissions.
Several troubling incidents preceded the shutdown, including the case of André Esther Haizen, an unqualified individual who posed as a pediatrician at the hospital from 1982 to 1990. Esther Haizen was later convicted of multiple charges including culpable homicide after several infants died under his care. Despite the hospital's closure occurring years after this scandal, questions remain about possible connections between these events and the facility's abandonment.
The government's decision to close the hospital appears particularly puzzling considering that:
The facility was designed to last approximately 100 years
Millions of dollars worth of equipment was abandoned inside
Patient records were left unsecured
Guards have continuously maintained the property since closure
The abandoned hospital has since become an unofficial tourist attraction, with many visitors documenting their explorations despite the presence of 24-hour security.
Unanswered Questions and Government Inaction
The closure of Kempton Park Hospital remains one of South Africa's most perplexing medical mysteries. Despite being a modern 350-bed facility located just 30 minutes from Johannesburg, the hospital abruptly stopped accepting new patients on December 26, 1996. Staff were relocated in 1997 without explanation, leaving behind millions in medical equipment and thousands of confidential patient files.
The South African government has provided no clear answers about the facility's closure. What makes this particularly troubling is that the nine-story hospital was relatively new and designed to serve the community for at least a century. Instead, it was suddenly marked as "quarantined" and fenced off, with its contents left to deteriorate.
Guards remain posted at the abandoned hospital 24/7, though they are known to accept bribes from curious visitors. The facility has inadvertently become a tourist attraction, with numerous explorers documenting their visits online. Despite this ongoing security presence, the government has done nothing to recover valuable equipment or properly secure sensitive patient information.
The timeline surrounding the closure raises serious questions:
November 1996: Documents show plans for healthcare restructuring in Gauteng province to save money
December 1996: Hospital stops admitting patients, citing "acute staff shortage"
1997: Complete closure despite official denials that the hospital would shut down
Adding to the mystery was the case of Andre Esther-Husana, who posed as a pediatrician at Kempton Park from 1982 to 1990 despite having no medical qualifications. His negligence resulted in multiple infant deaths and injuries, and he was eventually sentenced to 18 years for culpable homicide, impersonation, and fraud. This scandal exposed serious oversight failures but occurred years before the hospital's closure.
The abandonment of patient files is particularly troubling from both privacy and legal perspectives. These documents could have served as evidence in potential negligence cases against the hospital administration. The decision to leave expensive medical equipment behind also contradicts the government's stated goal of cost-saving through healthcare restructuring.
Multiple inquiries into the actual reasons for closure have been met with conflicting information or silence. This lack of transparency has only fueled speculation about what truly happened at Kempton Park Hospital and why a functioning medical facility serving a significant community was so hastily abandoned.
Aftermath and Current Abandonment State
The Kempton Park Hospital, once a thriving medical center just 30 minutes from Johannesburg, now stands as a haunting reminder of an unexplained closure. This nine-story facility with 350 beds suddenly stopped accepting new patients on December 26, 1996, with staff gradually moving out during 1997. No official explanation was ever provided for this abrupt shutdown, transforming a state-of-the-art medical facility into an abandoned structure.
Medical Equipment and Patient Records Abandoned
When Kempton Park Hospital closed, millions of rands worth of valuable medical equipment remained inside, left to deteriorate over time. Thousands of confidential patient files were also abandoned throughout the building with no apparent concern for privacy or proper records management. These sensitive documents now lie scattered across floors and surfaces, exposed to anyone who gains entry to the premises.
Much of the valuable equipment has since been stolen by looters who managed to access the building despite security measures. The current state of the facility reveals:
Advanced medical technology left to rust and decay
Personal health information visible and accessible
Patient records strewn across various hospital areas
Millions in taxpayer-funded equipment effectively wasted
This abandonment seems particularly puzzling considering the South African government initially claimed the restructuring effort affecting Kempton Park was designed to save money.
Security Presence and Unauthorized Exploration
Despite being officially closed and marked as quarantined, Kempton Park Hospital maintains 24-hour security guards on continuous payroll. These guards are tasked with preventing unauthorized entry, though they have developed a reputation for accepting bribes to allow visitors inside the decaying structure.
The abandoned hospital has evolved into an unofficial tourist destination, particularly attracting:
Urban explorers documenting the facility's deterioration
Local residents curious about the mysterious closure
People interested in the building's supposed paranormal activity
Numerous video logs can be found online showing tours through the abandoned corridors and rooms. The government's decision to pay for ongoing security while leaving valuable equipment and sensitive records inside creates a contradictory approach to the facility's management. The fenced-off property remains in limbo, neither properly decommissioned nor returned to service.
Media and Public Coverage
Conflicting Information and Theories
The mystery surrounding Kempton Park Hospital has generated numerous contradictory reports in public media. News outlets have published varying accounts of the hospital's operational timeline, with opening dates ranging between 1976 and 1978. The official closure narrative remains equally confusing. According to a 2009 article in the Star Late Edition, the Gautang Department of Health announced in December 1996 that no new patients would be admitted due to "acute staff shortage," while simultaneously denying plans to close the facility. Despite this contradictory statement, the hospital was permanently shut down in 1997.
The government's silence regarding the abandoned state of the facility has fueled widespread public speculation. Many find it particularly suspicious that millions in medical equipment and thousands of confidential patient files were left behind, seemingly contradicting the cost-saving rationale allegedly behind the hospital's closure. The public restructuring plan for Gautang area hospitals was reportedly put on hold, yet Kempton Park closed anyway.
Mystery Tourism and Urban Exploration
Despite 24-hour security presence, Kempton Park Hospital has become a popular destination for urban explorers and mystery enthusiasts. Guards, while officially tasked with preventing trespassing, are reportedly known to accept bribes from visitors seeking access to the abandoned facility. The nine-story building, once housing 350 beds and serving as a medical center just 30 minutes from Johannesburg, now draws curious visitors from various backgrounds.
YouTube contains numerous video logs documenting unauthorized tours through the deteriorating corridors. While many visitors are drawn by alleged paranormal activity, others are more interested in understanding the mysterious circumstances of the hospital's abrupt closure. The facility's quarantined status, combined with its abandoned medical equipment and scattered patient files, creates an atmosphere that continues to intrigue both locals and visitors two decades after its closure.
Major Events that Led to Hospital Shutdown
Dr. Andre Esterhausen's Medical Fraud
Dr. Andre Esterhausen, who practiced at Kempton Park Hospital from 1982 to 1990, was in fact not a doctor at all. This high school dropout managed to pose as a pediatrician for eight years without any formal medical training. His case reveals a shocking failure in the hospital's verification processes.
The consequences of Esterhausen's deception were devastating. Multiple infants died or suffered permanent disabilities under his care. Court records document several tragic cases:
A four-month-old who developed cerebral palsy after Esterhausen performed four lumbar punctures
A baby who suffered brain damage and ultimately died of kidney failure after Esterhausen made an incision in her chest to place a drip
A four-month-old girl diagnosed with meningitis who developed brain damage after multiple lumbar punctures
A premature infant who died the same day Esterhausen placed her in an oxygen tent
For these crimes, Esterhausen was convicted of three counts of culpable homicide, fraud, and impersonating a doctor, receiving an 18-year prison sentence. This scandal raised serious questions about the hospital's hiring practices and oversight.
Government Accountability and Operational Failures
The South African government's handling of Kempton Park Hospital raises troubling questions about transparency and resource management. On December 26, 1996, the hospital suddenly stopped accepting new patients, with officials citing "acute staff shortages" while simultaneously denying plans to close the facility.
Despite these denials, the hospital was completely shut down in 1997. This closure occurred during a controversial period of healthcare restructuring in Gauteng province that was supposedly designed to save money. The decision to close Kempton Park contradicted earlier announcements that restructuring plans had been put on hold.
Most puzzling was the government's approach to the closure:
Abandoned Resources Security Measures Millions in medical equipment 24/7 guards employed Thousands of confidential patient files Fencing around property State-of-the-art facility built to last 100+ years "Quarantine" designation
The abandonment of valuable medical equipment directly contradicted the stated goal of financial savings. Additionally, the government left behind thousands of patient records that could have contained evidence related to malpractice cases like Esterhausen's.
To this day, the government has taken no action to properly dispose of the equipment or secure the confidential patient information, despite maintaining security guards at the site continuously since its closure.
Financial Impact of the Hospital Shutdown
Restructuring Efforts and Economic Failures
The abrupt closure of Kempton Park Hospital in December 1996 represents a significant financial mismanagement case. The Gauteng Department of Health initially framed the closure as a temporary measure due to "acute staff shortage" while publicly denying any permanent shutdown plans. This contradictory communication preceded the complete abandonment of the facility in 1997.
The financial implications were substantial. Equipment valued in the millions was left behind in the nine-story, 350-bed facility. This abandonment directly contradicted the stated objective of the regional hospital restructuring initiative, which aimed to reduce healthcare costs in the Gauteng area.
Key Financial Failures:
Abandonment of millions in medical equipment
No salvage or reallocation of valuable resources
Ongoing security costs for 24/7 guards (continuing to present day)
Wasted investment in a facility designed to operate for 100+ years
The hospital's financial story becomes more complex when considering the earlier scandal involving Andre Esther Haizen, who posed as a pediatrician from 1982 to 1990 without qualifications. This situation created potential liability issues that were never properly addressed through the abandoned patient files.
The government's decision to maintain security at the vacant property while leaving valuable assets to deteriorate represents an ongoing financial drain without return. This contradicts sound financial management principles and raises questions about the true motives behind the closure beyond the publicly stated restructuring objectives.
Examining Hospital Closure Rationales
The Kempton Park Hospital, a nine-story facility with 350 beds located approximately 30 minutes from Johannesburg, closed unexpectedly on December 26, 1996. The hospital ceased accepting new patients without clear explanation, and staff were relocated at some point in 1997. What makes this case particularly unusual is that the facility was quarantined and fenced off with millions in medical equipment and thousands of confidential patient files abandoned inside.
The abrupt closure of this once state-of-the-art medical center has led to numerous theories and investigations. Despite being shuttered for over two decades, the facility maintains 24-hour security guards who, according to reports, sometimes accept bribes from curious visitors. The abandoned hospital has inadvertently become a tourist destination, with many explorers documenting their visits online.
Official Documents and Public Declarations
The Gauteng Department of Health made contradictory statements regarding the hospital's status. In November 1996, officials discussed plans to restructure hospitals in the Gauteng region as a cost-saving measure. When Kempton Park's closure was announced in December 1996, the Department cited "acute staff shortage" as the reason but explicitly denied they were permanently closing the facility.
By 1997, despite these denials, the hospital was completely shut down. This contradictory messaging raises significant questions about transparency in the decision-making process. The cost-saving rationale becomes particularly dubious when considering that millions in medical equipment was abandoned on-site rather than redistributed to other facilities.
Another troubling element emerged when investigating the hospital's operational history. From 1982 to 1990, an unqualified individual named Andre Esther Haizen posed as a pediatrician at the facility. Court records indicate his treatment led to multiple infant deaths and injuries, resulting in his conviction on charges of culpable homicide, impersonation, and fraud. This severe institutional oversight occurred years before the closure, raising questions about management practices and patient safety protocols at the facility.
The South African government has provided no comprehensive explanation for why patient records were abandoned, equipment was left behind, or why the property remains in a state of neglect despite being under continuous guard for decades.
