Jurinus Janse van Rensburg

He was born on 7 January 1952 in Murraysburg, in the Karoo and matriculated at Paarl Boys' High School in 1969. He joined the Defence Force in 1970 and was stationed at 1 Maintenance Unit at Lenz. It was during this period that he decided to study medicine and so commenced medical studies at the University of Pretoria.[2]

After completing his degree in 1976 he became a medical officer at 1 Military Hospital. In 1980 he was transferred to the then South African Medical Service Headquarters as the Senior Operational Officer, and during the same year was transferred to the then South West Africa Medical Command, Sector 10, as a medical officer.[2]

In 1983 he became the SO2 Medical Training Command. He was appointed to his first command position in 1986, when he became the Officer Commanding of the then South West Africa Medical Command. In 1989 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and became the General Officer Commanding of 1 Military Hospital.

In 1994 he was transferred back to the SAMHS Headquarters as Chief of Staff Planning until he was appointed Chief of Medical Force Application in 1997. On 1 October 2000 he succeeded the late Lt. Gen. Davidson Masuku, as the Surgeon General of the SANDF, a position he held until 31 July 2005. He was appointed Chief of Corporate Staff on 1 August 2005.

Lt. Gen. Janse van Rensburg received the following awards during his career:

• Southern Cross Decoration (SD)
• Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM)
• Military Merit Medal (MMM) }
• Pro Patria Medal }
• Southern Africa Medal }
• General Service Medal (South Africa) }
• Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years)) }
• Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years)) }
• Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years)) }
• Venerable Order of Saint John (Gr II - Knight of Justice or Grace) (KStJ) }
• CISM Order of Merit (Officer) }

He became a Knight of St John in 2001

• List of South African military chiefs
• South African Medical Service