In 1880, at the request of Bishop James David Ricards of the Eastern Vicariate of the Capeof Good Hope, Trappist Franz Pfanner abbot of Mariastern Abbey in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, established a monastery near Sundays River Valley, South Africa.
Due to drought and wind the site proved unsuitable and with the permission of Bishop Charles Jolivet, O.M.I., of the Natal Vicariate, Pfanner and his companions relocated to a part of the Zoekoegat farm, near Pinetown.
[6] In response to a request from Bishop Pius Dlungwane for an Apostolic Visitation, Pope Francis appointed the Archbishop Emeritus of Pretoria in South Africa, William Slattery O.F.M.
As a result of the visitation, in September 2020, Slattery was named apostolic administrator of the diocese, while Bishop Dlungwane remained its spiritual head.
Neil Augustine Frank, Provincial Superior of OMI in South Africa, was appointed Coadjutor Bishop.