South Africa, through the Department of Science and Technology (DST), will host the 19th Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO), at the Pure Joy Guest Lodge, Kameeldrift, Pretoria from 19 to 26 April 2009. 

The Department endorses this Olympiad and believes that it will create an enabling environment that will provide opportunities for creative thinking for mathematically inclined minds in the technological environment.

Thirteen countries including Niger, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Kenya, Benin, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Algeria, Uganda, Mali, Mozambique, the Ivory Coast and South Africa will participate in this event.

South Africa has been participating in the Olympiad for several years and came top in 2007 and 2008.

This year South Africa entered two teams. The official team consists of Arlton Gilbert (Star College), Dessi Nikolov (Eunice High School), Greg Jackson (Diocesan College) and Hlanganani Shibambo (Wordsworth High School). 

In the unofficial team are Sean Wentzel (Westerford High School), Kira Düsterwald (Springfield Convent), Charl du Plessis (Stellenberg High School), Ashraf Moolla (Rondebosch Boys' High School) and Rofhiwa Mauda (Mbilwi Secondary School).

At the conclusion of the Olympiad, South Africa will award gold, silver and bronze medals as well as medals for the top three countries.

The country will furthermore provide certificates of participation to all candidates including Honourable Mention and special prizes.

The DST and the South African Mathematics Foundation wish all participants well and trust that they will receive a truly South African welcome!

For more information, visit www.samf.ac.za/pamo2009.