Jurinus Janse van Rensburg

Lieutenant-General Jurinus (Rinus) Janse van Rensburg SD SM MMM was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Military Health Service in 1972 and commanded it, as Surgeon-General, from 2000 to 2005. He served as Chief of Corporate Staff from 1 August 2005 until his retirement in 2010.

Early life
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.

Military career
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. 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 Themba 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.

Awards and Decorations
Lt Gen Jansen van Rensburg received the following awards during his career: the Southern Cross Decoration, the Southern Cross Medal, the Military Merit Medal, the Bronze and Silver Good Service Medals. He became a Knight of St John in 2001.