Dear SAMS members
Happy New Year to each of you! As we start with 2026, I wish you and your families a year filled with productivity, intellectual growth, meaningful collaboration, and personal well-being. May this be a year of exciting research, strengthened connections, and progress — both individually and collectively as a society.
The start of a new year is always a good time for reflection. As mathematicians, we appreciate clarity and rigour, and it is important to apply that mindset not just to our work, but also to the broader context in which we live and contribute. Recent national conversations — for example around the interpretation of South Africa’s matriculation results — remind us how essential it is to look beyond surface figures and simplistic narratives to understand deeper trends and challenges. Experts have observed that while the reported matric pass rate is high, that statistic alone does not capture the full picture of learner readiness, subject mastery, or the broader educational pipeline.
Such discussions reflect a broader environment of political and social uncertainty, where data and policy can be wielded in ways that oversimplify complex realities. The mathematical sciences, with our emphasis on rigorous reasoning and critical analysis, have a vital role to play in grounding public discourse. I encourage all of us — as educators, researchers, and community members — to contribute constructively to these debates where we can, and to promote evidence-based thinking in our spheres of influence.
On a practical note, if you have questions, ideas, or suggestions as the year unfolds, please feel free to reach out by email — we are always happy to receive feedback. You can contact our general secretary Dr. Madelein Thiersen (secretary@sams.ac.za) or the president Prof. Christian Budde directly (president@sams.ac.za).
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to mathematics in South Africa. I look forward to what we will accomplish together in 2026.
With warm regards and best wishes,
Christian