​Four undergraduate students from Stellenbosch University made it into the top 10 of the annual University of the Witwatersrand Mathematics Competition, with Ralph McDougall, a third year electrical and electronic engineering student, taking first place overall.

Danielle Kleyn, a first year BSc-student in computer science, was the top female maths student and achieved an eighth place overall, while Jean du Plessis and Jean Weight obtained fifth and fourth place overall respectively. Jean Weight was also placed first in the best proofs category. Jean Weight is a first year BSc-student in computer science and Jean du Plessis second year BSc-student in physics. Together, as team SUmbody Once Told Me, they also won the university undergraduate team category.

Dr Jonathan Kariv from the University of the Witwatersrand's Department of Mathematics started the competition in 2018 to promote mathematics at all levels in Gauteng, but it soon escalated into a national competition. This year more than a thousand students and learners participated, including students and learners from several African countries.

The award function was streamed live on Monday 8 October and can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx0js7qnwK1ozSDUff25WUw or the result page can be visited for an overview: http://wmc.ms.wits.ac.za/2021-winners/#page-content.

In September this year, Ralph, Danielle and Jean Weight also made it into the first 20 positions in the Hall of Fame of the ASSA South African Tertiary Mathematics Olympiad (SATMO).

On the photo above, in the front from left to right, Ralph McDougall, Jean du Plessis and Jean Weight. At the back, maths lecturer Dr Liam Baker and Danielle Kleyn. Photo: Wiida Fourie-Basson