Top science learners honoured at the National Science Olympiad and competitions Award ceremony 2019
The South Africa Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) in collaboration with Harmony honored top learners on Thursday 26 September 2019, celebrating the National Science Olympiad and competitions awards ceremony. The event took place at the CSIR’s International Convention Centre, Pretoria in Gauteng.
The awards ceremony brought together learners from different schools across the country and from Zimbabwe. The awards ceremony celebrated top primary school and high school learners.
These learners have been battling it out in various science competitions, which include the Natural Science Olympiads, National Science Olympiads, National Schools Debates and Astroquiz. The main objective of these awards is to encourage excellence in science education and stimulate interest in the sciences. This year more than 80 000 learners participated in the initiative, which involved sitting for science quizzes, exams and debate.
The elegant award ceremony unfolded well with top achievers in the spotlight and motivational speeches and talks, of encouragement from distinguished guests. Amongst the guest speakers was the international FameLab runner-up and South African winner, Ms Keneilwe. Moropa. Ms Moropa encouraged the learners to continue majoring in science in science subjects beyond high school.
Mr Mashego Mashego an Executive Director represented Harmony Gold Mine Company Ltd the key driver in this initiative and the main sponsor for ten years. He emphasized why the company is involved in this project. “The truth that we all know is that our country needs more scientists, this is key for Harmony Gold Mine Company’s involvement in this project,’’ he said.
The event was also attended by educators and parents from different provinces. “These learners are the pool from which we draw our future scientists, doctors and inventors,” said Nolizwi Sitsheke, one of the parents who attended the ceremony. “We are so thankful to SAASTA for the support that they give the learners, we celebrate their success, and we encourage them to continue with their studies”.
There were some memorable and magical moments as the Mamelodi String Ensemble entertained guests. Having performed in different countries, the string quartet brought the magic back home as they graced the stage to a well-received applause from those in attendance.
Michael Ellis, Science Communications Manager at SAASTA who was the program director expressed his gratitude “I would like to take this opportunity to thank every learner, educators, sponsorships and NRF-SAASTA staff members who made this even successful. Today we are celebrating our young scientists who have solutions to every problem; he continued elaborating how mathematics and science are important subjects.”
The national winners from all the competitions took home prizes such as trophies, laptops and tablet computers.
INTERMEDIATE PHASE:
GRADE 4 – 6
TOP GRADE 4 LEARNER
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | % | |
| MP | Debele | F | Nelson Ngubeni Primary | Mpumalanga | 78 |
TOP GRADE 5 LEARNER
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | % | |
| WM | Muridili | F | Bashasha Primary | Limpopo | 82 |
TOP ACHIEVERS GRADE 4 – 6
| Position | Learner | Gender | School | Province | Grade | % | |
| 2 | IF | Kondile | F | Mbekweni Primary | WC | 6 | 82 |
| 1 | SJ | Jama | M | H2 Primary | EC | 6 | 83 |
SENIOR PHASE: GRADE 7 – 9
TOP GRADE 7 LEARNER
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | % | |
| AB | Siziba | F | Model Private | EC | 77 |
TOP GRADE 8 LEARNER
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | % | |
| A | Bester | M | Pretoria Boys High | Gauteng | 80 |
TOP ACHIEVERS GRADE 7 – 9
| Position | Learner | Gender | School | Province | Grade | % | |
| 3 | TW | Nkwanyana | M | Zacheus Malaza Secondary | Mpumalanga | 9 | 83 |
| 2 | A | Kaur | F | Model Private | EC | 9 | 83 |
| 1 | SM | Mtsweni | M | Zacheus Malaza Secondary | Mpumalanga | 9 | 84 |
AWARD CATEGORY: NATIONAL TOP 3 TEAMS [Grade 7]
| Team | Province | |
| 3rd Runner-up | Baillie Park Primary School | North-West |
| 2nd Runner-up | Ncotshane Primary School | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Winner | Laerskool Park | Western Cape |
NATIONAL TOP 3 TEAMS [GRADE 11]
| Team | Province | |
| 3rd Runner-up | Holly Cross High School | Western Cape |
| 2nd Runner-up | Port Shepstone High School | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Winner | Randfontein High School | Gauteng |
FET PHASE: LIFE SCIENCES GRADE 10 – 12
HIGHEST PARTICIPATION IN SPONSORSHIP OF HARMONY
Each school received a cheque
| Position | School | Province | Entries | Amount |
| 3rd Place | Thengwe High School | Limpopo | 988 | R5,000 |
| 2nd Place | Risinga High School | Limpopo | 1180 | R7,000 |
| 1st Place | Mbilwi Secondary School | Limpopo | 1238 | R10,000 |
TOP GRADE 10 LEARNER
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | % | |
| AM | Snyman | F | El Shaddai Christian School | WC | 60 |
TOP GRADE 11 LEARNER
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | % | |
| LM | Lubowa | M | African Leadership Academy | Gauteng | 82 |
TOP GIRL LEARNER GRADE 10 – 12
| Learner | School | Province | Grade | % | |
| N | Fakude | St Matthews Secondary | Gauteng | 12 | 76 |
TOP ACHIEVERS GRADE 10 – 12 SADC
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | Grade | % | |
| KG | Mapika | M | Gateway High | Zimbabwe | 12 | 90 |
TOP ACHIEVERS GRADE 10 – 12
| Position | Learner | Gender | School | Province | Grade | % | |
| 3 | P | Gadri | M | African Leadership Academy | Gauteng | 12 | 81 |
| 2 | LM | Lubowa | M | African Leadership Academy | Gauteng | 11 | 82 |
| 1 | MC | Ramulongo | M | Livha Combined School | Limpopo | 12 | 88 |
FET PHASE: PHYSICAL SCIENCES GRADE 10 – 12
TOP GRADE 10 LEARNER
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | % | |
| CR | Ramonetha | F | Rasema Secondary | Limpopo | 52 |
TOP GRADE 11 LEARNER
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | % | |
| Y | Ebrahim | M | Star College Bridgetown | WC | 76 |
TOP GIRL LEARNER GRADE 10 – 12
| Learner | School | Province | Grade | % | |
| F | Desta (Des-Ta) | African Leadership Academy | Gauteng | 12 | 69 |
TOP ACHIEVERS GRADE 10 – 12 SADC
| Learner | Gender | School | Province | Grade | % | |
| IA | Mlauzi | F | Arundel | Zimbabwe | 11 | 75 |
TOP ACHIEVERS GRADE 10 – 12
| Position | Learner | Gender | School | Province | Grade | % | |
| 3 | AJ | Naidu | M | Eden College Durban | KZN | 12 | 74 |
| 2 | Y | Ebrahim | M | Star College Bridgetown | WC | 11 | 76 |
| 1 | NN | Philip | M | Mbilwi Secondary | Limpopo | 12 | 82 |
The South Africa Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) is a business unit of the 
Tel: +27 (0)12 392 9300
Fax: +27 (0)12 320 7803