The University of Cape Town (UCT) Medical school was the first of its kind to be established in sub-Saharan Africa. Its history is interwoven with that of the major hospitals in the city, including Groote Schuur Hospital and the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.

Neurosurgery first became an independent discipline at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town in 1946. Since then many contemporary South African neurosurgeons have received their training in this unit.

Professor Jacques C De Villiers (Kay) was the first full-time academic head and was appointed to the Helen and Morris Mauerberger Chair of Neurosurgery in 1976. He remained in this position until his retirement when he was succeeded by Professor Jonathan C Peter in 1994. All aspects of general adult and paediatric neurosurgery were developed during this time. However, since 1994 due to the rapid evolution of neurosurgery worldwide it has become imperative to sub-specialise to maintain our leading position as a continental and national teaching and research resource. Members of the department today occupy prominent educational, editorial and executive administrative neurosurgical positions in all sub-speciality areas of neurosurgery both nationally and internationally.