The South End School was founded on 26 January 1903 by Miss Emily Clayton, together with 4 teachers and 130 pupils. The school was accommodated in Military tents. Not only children attended the school in the early years. In 1903 the acting principal, Miss Clayton, recorded: "Two bearded young men enrolled this morning". These two young men grabbed the oppertunity that many have done since then.

 

Through the years the school went through many changes.

 

The name of the school changed four times. The different names were a reflection of the different times in the city and countrys history, i.e. the names South End School and South School when the Salvokop area was the southernmost part of the capital. This is clearly not the case these days. The last change to Jopie Fourie Primary School was made on September 1970 in honour of historical figure Joseph (Jopie) Johannes Fourie.

 

The buildings and grounds also changed and improved as time progressed. On 3 May 1906 Lady Mary Girouard laid the corner stone of the school - a Milner type building. Lady Girouard was the former wife of Canadian national Col. Sir Percy Girouard, Director of the South African Railways. Several improvements and additions where made thoughout the years, with the latest addition being the Foundation Phase classes ont he western side of the building complex.

 

The schooland her learners quietly made and impact in different areas of current affairs thoughout the years. Some examples of these are the performance of the Bell Ensemble who performed at the birthday of former Prime Minister H.F. Verwoerd on 8 September 1962, and in March 1998 when the whole school met former Pres. Thabo Mbeki at Correctional Services. Mr. Mbecki visted the Correctional Services and the whole school stood as a gaurd of honour to welcome him. The school also produced sports stars such as World Champion swimmer Gerhard Zandberg, Springbok rugby player Johan Roux, and Blue Bull and Springbok Rugby legend Moanar van Heerden, whose famous catch phrase "My ball is my ball, and your ball is also my ball", is still known today. Most recently our Marimba musical group, trained and directed by well-known artist Ngwako Manamela, performed at the State Theatre at a Freedom Day 2012 Celebration hosted by the Minister of Arts and Culture.

 

The change still felt by all who use Potgieter Street till today, was the installation of the traffic lights at the corner of Potgieter Street and Skietpoort Avenue for the safty of children who had to cross Potgieter Street from the Correctional Services and Military housing. This could only happen after years of wading through burocratic red tape and being sent from department to the next. Traffic lights were only installed when new entry roads into Pretoria CBD were built in the early 1970's

 

The current principle of the school, Mr. Japie Venter, was appointed as acting principal on May the 1st 1999, and appointed permanently on 1 April 2000. Mrs. Hetty Barnard wa appointed as Deputy Principal on 1 April 2009

 

The school currently has 43 staff member - 27 teaching (including the Principal and Deputy Principal)' and 16 non-teaching staff. We also have an off-site Grade-R class at the Inkululeko Communtiy Center in Salvokop.

 

Through the years and all the changes, the school continued to be an institution that provided a quality education to all her learners - and will continue to do so for many years into the future.