Jane Furse

Jane Furse is a town in the Sekhukhune District Municipality of the Limpopo province in South Africa, surrounded by the villages of Ga-Moretsele, Madibong, Marulaneng, Mamone, Mokwete and Riverside.

Significant landmarks in Jane Furse include Jane Furse Plaza, Jane Furse Memorial Hospital (the largest public sector hospital in the Sekhukhune District) and St Mark's College. Jane Furse Crossing, another shopping centre, opened in 2013 and is situated at the main four-way intersection in the town.

History

Jane Furse developed around the Jane Furse Memorial Hospital and other infrastructure - including schools, clinics and churches - built by Christian missionaries belonging to the Anglican and Roman Catholic denominations. The Jane Furse Memorial Hospital was founded by the Rt. Revd Michael Furse, the Anglican Bishop of Pretoria from 1909 - 1920, and is named after his daughter, Jane Diana Furse, born 1904, who died of scarlet fever in 1918. Christian missionaries were also responsible for the construction of St. Rita's Hospital (situated at Ga-Moloi village) and St. Marks College (situated in the heart of Jane Furse).

Government

Jane Furse serves as the seat of the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality, one of the four local municipalities under the Sekhukhune District.

Most of the land in Jane Furse falls under the authority of traditional leaders, known as magoshi (singular = kgoshi).

The area is governed by the African National Congress (ANC). The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) serves as the main opposition party.

Culture

The town is host to the Sekhukhune Community Radio. Other media serving the area include Thobela FM, the Polokwane-based South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) radio station and Capricorn FM, a commercial radio station also based in Polokwane.

A unique genre of music is found in Jane Furse and surrounding areas. Known as "Tja Manyalo" (wedding songs), this type of music is almost exclusively produced in and around Sekhukhune areas.

Sepedi is the predominant language spoken in Jane Furse. Other languages spoken here include Swati and Southern Ndebele.

Education

Several primary and secondary schools are located in Jane Furse, catering to a student population estimated at 90,000. Most of the schools are public, with one private school and one private FET College. The list is as follows:

* Jane Furse City College
* Leap Science and Maths School
* St Mark's College
* St. Mark's Primary School
* Jane Furse Comprehensive School
* Jane Furse Primary School
* Arethabeng Primary School
* Bafedi Primary School
* Baropodi Comprehensive
* Kgolane Secondary School
* Lengama Secondary School
* Madibong Primary School
* Matsebong Secondary School
* Ngwana-matlang Secondary school
*Moretsele primary School
*Mookwane Primary School
*Lehutjwana Secondary School
*Bonega-Madikubung Primary School
*Dikgabje Primary School
*Mashegoanyane Primary School
*Kopanong Primary School
*Rebone Secondary School
*Thulare Primary School
*Mpilo Secondary School

Health facilities

Hospitals serving the area

* New Jane Furse Hospital
* St Ritas Hospital

Clinics

*Ditšhweung Community Clinic
*Madibong Community Clinic

Notable people

The following is a list of notable people associated with Jane Furse.
* Manche Masemola, Christian martyr
* Kgoshi Mampuru (died 22 November 1883), after whom the Kgoshi Mampuru prison and street, both in Pretoria, are named
* Godfrey Pitje, teacher, anti-apartheid activist and President of the ANC Youth League, succeeded by Nelson Mandela in 1951.
* Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs
* Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health
* Namane Dickson Masemola, Member of the Executive Council (MEC) responsible for Public Works, Limpopo Provincial Government.
*Elias Phakane Moretsele ANC anti-apartheid activist and 1956 Treason Trialist
* Edgar Marutlulle, Blue Bulls Rugby player

References

{{Sekhukhune District Municipality

Populated places in the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality