News

South Africa’s team delivered an exceptional showing at the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) 2025, securing top individual medals and the overall first-place ranking. Hosted by the Mathematical Association of Botswana from 8 to 18 June at the University of Botswana, this year’s competition tested the continent’s finest young minds across six problems in algebra, geometry, number theory and combinatorics.

The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) is proud to announce the learners selected to represent South Africa at this year’s International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) in Australia (10–20 July) and the Pan‑African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) in Botswana (11–18 June).

The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) is delighted to announce the outstanding results of its online Mathematics Problem-Solving (MPS) Course for facilitators at Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs) in partnership with the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (CoE-MaSS). Sixty-nine students enrolled for the course on Limina Education Services’ platform of which fifty-seven passed the training and became accredited to present MPS classes to high school learners. All successful facilitators were honoured at a virtual ceremony on 7 May.

In a nation where the teaching and learning of mathematics often face systemic challenges, a remarkable story of transformation is unfolding. The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF), in partnership with the Komatsu Foundation Trust (Komatsu), is leading an initiative that is not only changing attitudes toward mathematics but also delivering measurable results in classrooms across the country.

The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof Seithuti Moshokoa as its new Executive Director. A respected academic, enthusiastic educator, and long-serving champion of mathematics in South Africa, Prof Moshokoa brings with him a deep understanding of the role mathematical sciences plays in shaping future generations.

As my tenure as Executive Director of the South African Mathematics Foundation has drawn to a close, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your support throughout this journey.

The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF), in partnership with the DSTI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (CoE-MaSS), is proud of its first collaborative project: strengthening

The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) is delighted to announce a transformative partnership with Komatsu, focused on enhancing mathematics education for both teachers and learners from six districts where Komatsu has operations. This collaboration, a strategic blend of resources and expertise, aims to uplift mathematics teaching and learning quality while inspiring a renewed interest in the subject among young South Africans.

The recent article, Why our children can’t do maths (Daily Maverick, 7 January 2025), highlights a pressing issue that demands focused attention—the prevalence of teachers who will not or cannot teach mathematics across South Africa. The South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) acknowledges this challenge and its impact on learners' mathematics proficiency.

Prof Kerstin Jordaan, Executive Director of the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF), acknowledges the challenges highlighted in the article Why South Africa Continues to Lag in Maths and Science Education (IOL Daily News, 20 December 2024). For the past 20 years, SAMF has made a significant contribution towards fostering mathematics excellence. The organisation’s impact, while substantial, is currently limited by available funding, highlighting an opportunity to expand its support to reach even more learners across the country.