Four W Cape pupils in top SA maths team

FOUR Western Cape pupils are gearing up to take on the best young maths minds in the world at the 61st International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) for Team South Africa. The IMO was due to take place in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in July but owing to the Covid19 pandemic, it was postponed to September 21 and 22 and transformed into a virtual event.

Each country selects a team of six to represent them at the IMO, and this year’s South African team, led by Liam Baker, was selected based on the results of last year’s South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO) and other SAMF Olympiad programmes. Baker participated in the IMO in 2008 and 2009.

The Cape pupils are Kerry Porrill from Cannons Creek Independent School, Juliette Roux from Herschel Girls’ High School, Jean Weightfrom from Curro Hermanus and Emmanuel Rassou from South African College Schools. The other members, both from Gauteng, are Kgaogelo Bopape from Horizon International School and Andi Qu from St John’s College.

Provincial Education spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said: “Mathematics continues to be a focus area in the Western Cape and we encourage participation in olympiads and other competitions.”

The SAMO is sponsored by Old Mutual and the South

African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Each participating country will have a central exam centre that will observe social distancing.

The virtual closing ceremony will be on September 28, during which the results will be announced. |