(The name Valkenberg derives from the Dutch farmer Cornelius Valk, who established a farm on the land on which the hospital is now situated, in 1720.)

[1] Valkenberg Hospital features prominently in the troubled life of Tshepo, the lead character in K. Sello Duiker's novel, The Quiet Violence of Dreams.

However, this was met with vigorous opposition and after a lengthy discussion and consultation process; the decision was made to keep the hospital open but to consolidate the site and to reduce the number of beds.

The need to develop a new high care unit derived from the unsuitable design of the previous wards, which had been in use from the early part of the 20th century.

Patients at Valkenberg are either admitted on a voluntary, assisted or involuntary basis in accordance with the South African Mental Health Care Act of 2002.