Pupils make SA proud at African maths olympiad

SOUTH AFRICA has the most brilliant young maths minds on the continent, with a Somerset West high school pupil being crowned “Queen of Mathematics in Africa” at the 26th Pan African Maths Olympiad (Pamo).

The accolade is indisputable after six maths boffins from SA high schools represented the country at Pamo in Nairobi, Kenya, triumphing against their peers from eight countries.

The South African team’s superior maths brain power in winning the olympiad, which took place from June 23 to Saturday, was highlighted in the winning of a gold medal by Grade 10 pupil Kgaugelo Bopape, who came second overall in the event.

Not far behind him was Grade 10 pupil Danielle Kleyn, who won a silver medal and was crowned Queen of Mathematics in the olympiad’s female section.

Bopape attends the Horizon International School in Johannesburg and Kleyn Parel Vallei High School in Somerset West.

The rest of the team won individual medals. They included silver medallists Malwande Nkonyane, in Grade 12 at Horizon International High School in Gauteng, and Razeen Parker, in Grade 12 at Rondebosch Boys’ High School, as well as Klara Eybers, who is in Grade 11 at Menlopark High School in Pretoria.

Amber De Decker, in Grade 12 at Herschel Girls’ High School in Cape Town, obtained a bronze medal in the Pamo-G competition (catering for girls).

The 47 contestants who competed in the olympiad and its Pamo-G section (catering for girls) wrote two tests consisting of three olympiad problems each. The questions called for insight and ingenuity.

South Africa was ranked the top team, followed by Morocco and Tunisia. The other countries that competed were Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Botswana and Ghana.

The SA team’s success came under the watchful eye of their team leaders, Dylan Nelson and Lauren Denny, two former medallists of the SA Mathematics Olympiad.

Bopape said: “I was shocked when I was named the winner. I couldn’t believe it.

“It was a massive improvement from last year when I participated for the first time. I hope to improve and go further next year.”

THE A-TEAM: The maths team that represented South Africa at Pan African Maths Olympiad in Nairobi last week came first out of nine countries. Danielle Kleyn (middle) from Somerset West was crowned Queen of Mathematics for the Pamo-G (girls section).