The Ursulines came to South Africa from Sittard, Holland, at the requst of Rev. A Schoch, the Prefect Apostolic of the Transvaal, who wanted to establish a Catholic school for the children of immigrant families of gold miners in Barberton, a desolate mining camp in the Eastern Transvaal. The Sisters arrived in 1895, but by 1897 the Ursulines, with all the miners and farmers of the area, found themselves under the shadow of the cross. The dreaded cattle disease rindepest broke out, causing financial ruin to many families. When, in addition to these difficulties, the plague broke out, the  Governor closed all schools, leaving the Convent without its means of livelihood. At the same time the Barberton gold deposits proved to be inferior to the rich finds on the Witwatersrand. Farmers and miners began their trek from Barberton and left the Ursuline school depleted. Rev. Fr de Lacy, Acting Prefect Apostolic, offered the Ursulines another field of labour in the young Johannesburg on the Witwatersrand, in the suburb of Braamfontein, where they would take over a school that was being run by two Holy Family Sisters. Again storm clouds gathered. This time it was the Anglo-Boer war of 1899. Houses were vacated and the country thrown into a state of chaos. The Ursuline school had to be utilised as a hospital, and the Sisters took over nursing duties. In 1902 it was found advisable for the Sisters to return to Europe. They were given a free passage back by the British Government in recognition for their services during the war. In September, 1902, another group of eight Sisters left Sittard to continue the school at Braamfontein.

While the community of Braamfontein was still in its infancy, requests came for a boarding school in Krugersdorp, and in November, 1903, five of the group left Braamfontein to form the Krugersdorp community and to establish St Ursula‘s Convent School. Braamfontein community closed in 1907 - so from 1907 — 1914 Krugersdorp was the only Ursuline communityin South Africa and was under the superiorship of Mother Mary Overbeck. Her name stands out in the annals of our history, especially for her characteristic common- sense, balance, faith and firm kindness.

The first postulant entered in 1906 - a young Irish girl with connections in South Africa - Mary Ellen Morrissey - later to be Mother Ursula Morrissey, who would bring the Transvaal Mission into the Roman Union in 1921. Contact with Ireland in 1911 brought a steady flow of vocations - so that names in our Province register changed from van Dyks, Eisenbachs and Kleikamps to O'Kanes, Byrnes and McKeigneys. Local vocations also trickled through. In 1912 there was the first South African vocation, M. Borromeo Vaughan, while 1915 brought the first Ursuline past pupil, M. Benedict Emmerich. A young student teacher at Sr Ursula's, M. Xavier Johnstone entered in 1921. For ninety-one years the school has flourished and changed according to the needs of the times. On 10th November, 1995, the Laurus community was opened, housed in a new building on the same property.

Until 1912 there was the one Ursuline school, St Ursula's, but in that year a day school for primary boys and girls was opened at Roodepoort ,- dedicated to St Joseph. For ten years the Sisters travelled there daily. In 1922 the convent was built and St Joseph's was now able to house a boarding school for junior boys as well as the day school. In the late 1950's the decision was taken to transfer St Joseph's to a new site in Discovery but when it became evident that there was a growing need to provide Catholic boys' education on the West Rand the property was sold to the La Salle Brothers, while the Ursulines, in 1966, opened a new school for girls in Bryanston, Brescia House, set out in spacious grounds, which is still flourishing.

The year 1914 saw the opening of St Angela's Convent in Kensington, Bezuidenhout Valley, (affectionately known as "the Valley") founded from Krugersdorp. The school flourished till the 1970's when the decline in numbers did not make it feasible to carry on and in 1980 it amalgamated with Marist Brothers, Observatory, and Holy Family Convent, Yeoville, to form Sacred Heart College. Later the community transferred to a smaller house in Observatory because of its apostolic involvement in Sacred Heart College.

At the request of Bishop O'Leary, OMI, SS. Peter and Paul's Parochial school in Krugersdorp was opened in 1921 . This was the first Parochial School in the Diocese and boasts among its past pupils several priests who are working in the diocese, Frs. Bugler, de Nobrega, Towell and Houreld - all OMI. When La Salle College in Discovery became a focal point of education for boys on the West Rand, SS Peter and Paul's premises became the Junior Primary Department of St Ursula's. At that point, more suitable premises were purchased at 9 Halse Street from the Jewish community who had moved to a new complex.

From 1925 - 1935 Ursulines administered St Francis Xavier's school for coloured children in Simonstown. They were there ten happy years during which the little school prospered under the direction of M. Baptist Brox. But transport being what it was in those days, it was felt that Simonstown was too far removed from the Transvaal - and as no further foundations were envisaged in the Cape, the work was handed over to the Dominican Sisters.

A request brought by a delegation of parishioners in Randfontein for a school to be opened there was realised in 1936 with the building of a Convent and School, St Francis Xavier's. With the closing of the Randfontein Estates Mine, numbers in the school dropped sharply and after several years of difficulty St Francis Xavier's closed at the end of 1974.

In 1954 at the request of Archbishop Whelan the Ursulines accepted the administration and formation of a new Diocesan Congregation, the Companions of St Angela. M. Gertrude Moran, OSU, was appointed the Moderator General and M. Antoinette Carroll, OSU, the Novice Mistress. This group became independent in 1977 when Sr Joseph Mary Modise CSA was appointed the first Mother General.

Our mission schools of St Mary's, Krugersdorp, (1926), St Patrick's, Randfontein (1932) and St Angela's, Roodepoort (1933) were flourishing when government legislation was introduced in 1953 nationalising Church schools. Those that chose to retain the religious character of the schools suffered the loss of all State aid. Our schools survived thanks to the financial aid from the hierarchy and the Ursuline Generalate in Rome. Then came further government legislation declaring certain areas 'white‘ areas — a declaration which affected St Mary's which was then transferred from Munsieville to Kagiso, with the new name of Mofumahadi. st Patrick's was rebuilt at Mohlakeng with the new name of Merici, and St Angela's took on new life in Dobsonville. This latter school was the first private school for Africans to be opened after the 1954 legislation and sent a wave of hope to all involved. Today Ursulines maintain their link with these schools in the capacity of Co-ordinators. Due to declining numbers because of the many primary schools in Mohlakeng, Merici as a primary school will be closed at the end of 1995. In 1996 it will be administered by the State as a Junior High School.

In 1970 at the invitation of Archbishop Adam Kozlowiecki of Lusaka a group of Ursulines made a foundation in Zambia to staff Kalundu Centre for Religious Sisters studying at the University. This foundation terminated in 1975 as the project did not develop as anticipated.

Then in 1984 the Ursulines at the request of the Benedictine Fathers, accepted the administration of a Co-ed Catholic High School, St Bede's, in the former Homeland Lebowa, (now the Northern Province). In addition to the educational apostolate the Sisters became involved in the Pastoral Centre, and catechetical and pastoral work. After 20 years the community closed with a project to open a new community in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

In 2015, an international community opened in St Lucia (KZN) with the mission to run a Retreat and Training Centre and to promote life and education especially among the poorest in the surrounded villages. In 2024, the mission was taken over by the Marist Brothers and their lay Associates.