South African students to compete in International Mathematics Olympiad and Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad
Image: Supplied
The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) proudly unveils the select group of exceptional learners set to represent the nation at two prestigious international mathematics competitions: the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) in Australia, scheduled for 10–20 July 2025, and the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) in Botswana, taking place from 11–18 June 2025. This selection marks a significant milestone in a decade-long journey that begins as early as Grade 4 with the SAMF's South African Mathematics Challenge.
To qualify for these esteemed teams, students journey through a rigorous pipeline. Learners achieving 50% or higher in the first round of the Old Mutual South Africa Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO) advance to the second round. The top 100 Juniors (Grades 8–10) and top 100 Seniors (Grades 11–12) then proceed to a final round where the top scorers are identified and invited to intensive training camps. This careful selection ensures that only the most mathematically adept learners are chosen for the international stage.
The 2025 PAMO Team. Top from left to right: Ruth Trimble, WanRu Zhou, and Olivia Castleden. Bottom from left to right: James Prins, Noah Greenblatt, and Eric Senekal.
Image: Supplied
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
'Mathematical excellence is built over years of dedication, curiosity and rigorous training,' said Prof Seithuthi Moshokoa, Executive Director of SAMF. 'Our 2025 IMO and PAMO teams exemplify SAMF's mission to empower learners, advance research, and advocate for mathematics across South Africa. We congratulate each learner and trust their achievements will inspire others to pursue the beauty of mathematics.'
The IMO is regarded as the World Championship Mathematics Competition for high school students, hosting countries from across the globe every year. Since its inception in 1959 in Romania, the competition has grown significantly, now featuring over 100 participant nations, with each country permitted to field a team of no more than six contestants alongside a leader and deputy leader.
This year's South African team for the IMO is a powerhouse of talent, featuring: Moied Baleg (Grade 12) from Settlers High School – represented South Africa in the IMO 2024 and was the overall winner of the Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad in 2024.
Youkyum Kim (Grade 12) from Reddam House, Durbanville – also an IMO 2024 representative and the overall winner of the Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad in 2023, as well as the South African Mathematics Challenge winner in 2019.
Eli Williams (Grade 11) from Westerford High School – an IMO 2024 representative and silver medallist in both the South African Mathematics Challenge (2019) and the Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad (2022, 2023 and 2024).
Pocoyo Pun (Grade 10) from Elkanah House – represented South Africa at PAMO in 2024, earning silver medals in the Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad in 2023 and 2024.
Yian Xu (Grade 12) from Redhill High School – an IMO 2024 representative and silver medallist in the SA Maths Olympiad from 2021 to 2024.
Ellen Grant-Smith (Grade 12) from Westerford High School – represented South Africa in the 2024 IMO and earned silver at the Old Mutual SA Maths Olympiad in 2022 and 2024.
The PAMO is an annual competition organised by the African Mathematical Union (AMU), wherein teams consist of six contestants (three girls and three boys), along with a team leader and a deputy team leader. The South African team for PAMO 2025 comprises the following talented individuals:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Celestial marvel: your guide to experiencing the Perseid meteor shower
Meteors from the Perseid meteor swarm burn up in the atmosphere as our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is seen in the clear night sky over the German island of Fehmarn, Germany, early August 13, 2015. The Perseid meteor shower occurs every year when the Earth passes through debris and dust of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Image: DANIEL REINHARDT / EPA On the greater scheme of things, I am more of a sunset person than a sunrise worshipper - forsaking witnessing the breaking of dawn in favour of savouring each setting sun - but not tomorrow or the day after. That's because on August 12 and 13, just before dawn, the Perseid meteor shower will peak with up to 100 meteors an hour, filling the sky with bright and fast-moving remnants of comet Swift-Tuttle as they burn up in Earth's atmosphere. The natural fireworks display happens when Earth passes through the trail of dust and debris left by a comet long gone. According to the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, "Particles travelling through space are termed meteoroids. If they enter the atmosphere, then the resultant streak of light is termed a meteor. "Bright meteors are termed fireballs, and if seen to explode, they are called bolides. If the object survives its passage through the atmosphere, reaches the ground and is recovered, then it is termed a meteorite." These meteorites hold significance for scientists who go out of their way to get their hands on them, as they hold the key to their origin in the universe. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland in the Northern Cape is renowned for its clear view of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Image: SAAO / Facebook The fast pace of the Perseid shower, coupled with the sheer number of these particles burning up as they enter our atmosphere, makes it the favourite meteor shower of the year. The Perseids get their name from the constellation Perseus. Known for their fast, bright fireballs and high hourly rates, the Perseids are a favourite for casual stargazers and seasoned skywatchers alike, according to "People". But there is no escaping that you'll have to set an alarm - there is no fluke skywatching when it comes to Perseid. You have to be prepared. And you have to be prepared for disappointment, too. That's because of the waning crescent moon that might ruin the show. Then there is the issue of cloud cover, which can obscure your view of the spectacle. Experts advise ensuring you have a dark sky to begin with. They also suggest giving your eyes 20 minutes to half an hour to get accustomed to the light conditions, making it easier for you to catch a glimpse of a meteor, or what we call "shooting stars". So, if you're a city dweller, head out of town with a flask of coffee and a blanket to make the occasion memorable. Also, while you're about it, you may as well feast your eyes on the Venus-Jupiter conjunction that happens just after sunset tonight. They will appear closer together than the width of a full Moon. Even in light-polluted areas, you'll see the two side-by-side by looking low in the sky about 30 minutes to 45 minutes after sunset.
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Young scientists shine at Eskom West Coast Expo
Marcelle Adams from Eskom with top achievers Zewah Engelbrecht; Ovayo Somhlahlo; Dawid Bierman; Duran Farmer; Tiaan Lamminga; and Kyle Cookson of Eskom. Image: Eskom PARTICIPANTS in this year's Eskom Expo for Young Scientists West Coast regional science fair impressed the judges with their creativity, critical thinking, and innovative solutions to real-world challenges facing South Africa. The event held at the White City Multipurpose Centre, Saldanha on Thursday featured 85 projects showcased by 129 young scientists in Grades 4–12 and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) NC(V) Level 2 to NC(V) Level 4 students. These learners progressed in their Expo journeys after taking part in various activities throughout the year, including workshops and District Expos. The most popular category at this year's fair was Social Sciences, with 23 entries, followed by strong participation in Energy (17), Engineering (15) and Chemistry and Biochemistry (eight). Umoya Energy director Johanna Stoffels with Zewah Engelbrecht and Ovayo Somhlahlo. Image: Eskom Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Eskom Expo's West Coast Provincial Coordinator, Ursula Boys, extended her heartfelt gratitude to sponsors, partners, educators, volunteers, judges, and learners for their contributions in making this year's event a success, and inspiring the next generation of innovators. 'To the teachers, parents, volunteers and judges, your dedication, expertise, and enthusiasm have been instrumental in guiding and supporting our learners throughout their scientific journeys. To the learners themselves, I offer my warmest congratulations on their outstanding achievements and innovative projects. Your passion for science and your commitment to excellence have been truly inspiring, and we are proud to have you as part of our science fair community. 'I would like to extend an invitation to more schools and learners to get involved in the Eskom Expo West Coast,' said Boys. Judges at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists West Coast regional science fair. Image: Eskom During the awards ceremony, learners were recognised for excellence in research and innovation. A total of 13 Gold medals, 25 Silver medals, and 47 Bronze medals were awarded. The outstanding young scientists were honoured with prestigious Special Awards from Eskom. Winners who received Bluetooth wireless speakers with wireless chargers sponsored by Eskom include Zewah Engelbrecht and Ovayo Somhlahlo from Jurie Hayes Primary School, Duran Farmer from Vredendal High School, Dawid Bierman from Swartland High School, Tiaan Lamminga from Curro Langebaan. Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Eskom Development Foundation Mologadi Motshele said: 'As the only initiative of its kind operating at scale across all provinces, the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists plays a critical role in developing the country's Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Innovation (STEMI) skills. This initiative equips young learners with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to pursue careers that will ultimately contribute to solving the country's most pressing developmental challenges.' Other prizes were awarded for exceptional efforts and creativity in various categories. Kropz awarded Bluetooth speakers and water bottles to top performing participants. Umoya Energy also awarded a number of special awards. Eskom Expo Executive Director, Parthy Chetty, said the Regional Science Fair is an exciting opportunity and a unique platform for young scientists to showcase their creativity, innovation, and passion for solving real-world problems while still at school. 'It's more than just a science competition; it's the only national platform to innovate, explore, and develop ideas that can shape a better future for our struggling communities and our country. Whether it's in agricultural sciences, technology and innovation, the environment, or everyday challenges, their solutions can make a real difference. By participating, learners take the first step toward becoming problem-solvers and future leaders in Science and Innovation. The Expo encourages learners to collaborate with like-minded young scientists to build a brighter tomorrow. Their ideas matter, their efforts count, and their curiosity could be the key to the next big breakthrough,' he said. For more information, visit: Cape Times
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Do you know just how much of modern technology is thanks to people who 'lack the intellect'
Letters to the Editor. Image: Supplied Had it not been for women... For hundreds of years, men have been scared of one thing: a smart woman. And scared men are dangerous men. They didn't just fear smart women – they destroyed them. They brutalised them, ridiculed their intellect, and gutted their legacy from history –only to replace truth with a poisonous myth: Women's minds are inferior to men's. And then lied: 'See? Women were never great,' gaslighting the human race. If a woman cannot answer a general knowledge question, the stereotype is confirmed: 'Brains aren't your department, huh?' But if she can answer it, the goalposts shift – 'She must have memorized it,' or, 'She's just lucky'. Intelligence in men is applauded; in women, it's interrogated. If women truly weren't intelligent, then history's greatest moments would not have been shaped by women's brilliance – shattering the sexist narrative. Marie Curie didn't merely study radiation – she opened Pandora's box of atomic science. She uncovered radioactivity, advanced its science, and made history as the only dual-Nobel-winning woman. No man has ever matched that. In fact, her research was later used by those very 'same men' to build the atomic bomb. If women were 'less intelligent', explain Curie's impact on both medicine and physics. You can't. Hedy Lamarr, famed actress and brilliant inventor, co-created frequency-hopping technology – the seed of Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. Without her, you wouldn't be reading this on your phone or laptop. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Katherine Johnson, a Black mathematician at Nasa, calculated the flight paths that put the first American in orbit and got Apollo 11 to the Moon. Without her, the US space programme could have been a disaster. About 150 years before your smartphone, in the 1800s, Ada Lovelace invented programming (the first computer algorithm), despite the technology not yet existing. She literally predicted modern programming. Without her, the tech world as we know it wouldn't exist. Today, the entire field of software development owes its origins to Lovelace's visionary women were truly 'not smart,' none of this would exist. No space travel. No Wi-Fi. No computer programming. People claim women's minds work differently from men's. Men brought us war, greed, and domination – perhaps women's reasoning might heal us instead. | Yumna Zahid Ali Karachi, Pakistan. National dialogue an absolute sham The assertion by Brett Herron of the Good Party that a national dialogue is more pertinent than ever is naïve and unrealistic not only because of how the ANC has structured the intended process, but because the 2024 national election was the national dialogue. On that day voters declared the ANC's time as sole ruler was up. It had had 30 years to deliver a 'better life for all' and had failed atrociously. The GNU is a disingenuous means for the ANC to pretend it still has a mandate to ruin South Africa although it lost that on May 29 2024. Mr Herron deludes himself when he says a national dialogue is necessary to 'awaken the government from its slumber and deliver'. The ANC is fully alive to what it is doing. It is delivering on its Marxist national democratic revolution and using the GNU to facilitate it. Ramaphosa's purpose in wasting R700 million to facilitate a so-called national dialogue is a face-saving pretence to project the view that the ANC is in earnest about addressing the ills of the country. It is a pretence because in advance it has been made clear that the final outcomes of the dialogue must align with the ANC's ideological world views. That means views challenging their narrative will not be reflected in the decision-making an attempt to give credence to the process and its outcomes, an eminent persons' panel has been appointed whose members' views echo those of the ANC. From those parameters it should be obvious that no improvement in the state of the country can result when it is predetermined that the same policies which have brought about dysfunction, dereliction and distress will not be challenged. In other words, the so-called dialogue is a window dressing can be no salvation for South Africa until the ANC and its communist cadres and cronies are removed root and branch. To initiate that process will require a clear anti-communist mandate in a general election. From there a national convention premised on commitment to free enterprise, unambiguous property rights and Judeo-Christian values should follow. Then, as is being initiated by the Trump Administration, there must be consequences for those who have looted, defrauded and corrupted the system. Unless this process is followed, there is no hope for South Africa – unless God intervenes. | DR DUNCAN DU BOIS Bluff Orwell's vision of the future has arrived The article by Dr Iqbal Surve' in the Sunday Tribune in which he uses the basis of the George Orwell book 1984 as the benchmark for his article is right on the money. The book, written in 1949, was prophetic and is being played out right now in the US. Orwell wrote about a new world order where all freedoms were banned – freedom of thought, the written word, literature, history and opinion. Orwell's book describes the surveillance police who monitor the population with transgressors facing the death penalty. Fast forward to America 2025 which is fast becoming dystopian under Donald J Trump. The world order that has been in place ever since George Washington's inauguration has been turned upside down in 6 months by Trump. Gone is democracy to be replaced by Trumps authoritarian rule. Dr Surve's suggestion that the AI era is distorting the facts on hundreds of search engines is correct … after all these 'facts' are merely the opinions of hundreds of people and correlated by the search engines into an artificial version of the truth – truth isn't an opinion. There is an old saying: 'Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'Orwell could have written his book based on Trump's first 6 months in office! | Colin Bosman Newlands Kudos to DA minister for doing right thing Congratulations to DA cabinet member and minister of Public Works Dean Macpherson for again doing the right thing, stepping up and exposing, confronting, challenging and criminally charging wrongdoing in his orbit of influence and control. Unlike other DA cabinet ministers, Macpherson is not only beavering away behind the scenes doing good work that nobody ever gets to know about, but he is chasing publicity as hard as he is chasing the crooks. This is the ONLY way to justify the DA's continued participation in the GNU and his fellow DA cabinet ministers (including DA leader Johnny Jelly Tot Steenhuisen and the famously competent Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber) and deputy ministers would all do very well to start doing the same. Their continued participation in the GNU – effective but largely silent, with little or no publicity and arrest of crooks – may well be doing 'good work' somewhere, somehow but, politically and strategically for the DA, it is a hiding to nowhere. If nobody knows about it then it's not happening and, with South African voters and their notoriously short memories, the DA will pay a heavy price at the next election. | Mark Lowe Durban DAILY NEWS
