It is with great sadness that we are informing you of the sudden passing of Mrs Frances Jimba. Mrs Jimba died peacefully this past weekend at her home. She taught Xhosa at the Prep from 1980 to 1987 and was very well-liked among the staff, pupils and parents. She is survived by her four children of whom two, Kennedy (1983S) and Zama (1994S), both attended Bishops. 

Her husband Mr Hertzog Jimba who passed away in 2005, was the inaugural Xhosa teacher at Bishops, from 1975-79. 

We extend our condolences to the Jimba family. 

A full obituary will follow in next week’s newsletter. Meanwhile, we would like to invite you to please to share any stories that you may have of Mrs Jimba, in the comments section below. 

Obituary written by Dr Murray:

Nojerico Frances Jimba, a dedicated mother and lifelong teacher lived most of her years in the township of Gugulethu Cape Town. She had relocated from the Eastern Cape with her then small family, her firstborn son Kennedy (1983S) and late husband Mr HM Jimba, in 1965.  Gugulethu is also where she unexpectedly succumbed to lung failure and subsequently died on May, 3rd 2020.

Born in the eNgcobo village of the Eastern Cape on the 16th of September 1942 she attended the local primary school in Tsomo where she grew up. Her late mother, Mrs NV Hobe - also a teacher - insisted on sending her to boarding school, where she would matriculate and further her studies at Hilltown College. This is where the small village girl would find her wings and flourish to obtain her PTC. A natural sportswoman, she took up netball, athletics and her favourite sport tennis and ironically her courtship with her husband to be, ensued. She would later graduate from UNISA in 1987 with a BA degree.

Nojerico married her husband at eMatolweni village in Tsomo in 1964 and a year later moved to Cape Town. As a housewife and doting mother, she found her first job as a sales-rep at Lewis furniture store.

Due to the 1976 uprising, the Jimba family returned to the Eastern Cape where her teaching career would formally begin at JSS Mayekiso 1977 - 1979.

While juggling between her career, studies and growing family she followed her husband (Mr Jimba taught at Bishops, 1975-79 – he had come from the UCT African Languages Department and was the pioneer IsiXhosa teacher at the College) and took the post of being the first Black isiXhosa teacher at the prestigious Diocesan College Preparatory School, also known as Bishops Prep, 1980 - 1987. During her tenure at Bishops Prep, she also became a part-time teacher at Micklefield, 1980 - 1986. After Bishops Prep she returned to her roots and taught at Gugulethu Comprehensive School 1987 until her retirement in 2008. Post-retirement she dabbled in script translation for radio adverts while invigilating at the University of the Western Cape’s isiXhosa department.

Frances is survived by her four children - Kennedy, Ayanda, Zola, Zamuxolo (1994S) and five grandchildren.

The Bishops Community sends condolences to the Jimba Family for the passing of Frances Jimba, their beloved Mother/Grandmother.

Lala ngoxolo maDunjane. Ugqatso lakho ulifezile.

May Her Dear Soul Rest in Peace.