Category: Uncategorized

SAMS Council has approved to recommend amendment of constitution for including a new membership category of “Associate Member” without voting rights, for any individual (from industry, government, undergraduate mathematics programmes, etc.) who does not qualify for any of the existing membership types, but who is keen to support SAMS and/or has a strong desire to be part of the SAMS community. The precise proposed changes to the constitution are highlighted in this document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B4OUmJCNZX0uCdAX-PsCK_isI-Llr7UjqvcdIjRyohI/edit?usp=sharing 
There will be a discussion and vote on these changes at the AGM during the upcoming SAMS Congress.

Dear Member

I would like to extend my sincere thanks for your continued support of the South African Mathematical Society through the payment of your 2025 membership fee.

If you have not yet paid your membership, we kindly encourage you to do so at your earliest convenience.

Regards
Dr Wen-Chi Kuo
SAMS Financial Manager

The School of Mathematics and the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand will host a special seminar by Prof. Andreas Meister (University of Kassel, Germany) on Thursday, 16 October 2025 from 10:15 to 11:00 in the T.W. Kambule Mathematical Sciences Building, Floor 3, Seminar Room. Below is some information about the talk and speaker:

• Title: “Asymptotic Analysis and Numerical Methods for Compressible Flows at all Mach Numbers”
• Abstract: abstract_meister_asymptotic
• CV: cv_meister
• Publication record: publications_meister

Those interested to attend can contact Dr. Rina Durandt (rina.durandt@wits.ac.za) for more details.

In preparation for this year’s AGM at the 68th annual SAMS Congress scheduled to take place at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha from 2 to 5 December 2025, the current SAMS Council requested nominations for positions on the Council that will become vacant at the end of the year.

The closing date for nominations was on 30 September 2025, and we are happy to report that we have received the following nominations (which we list alphabetically, including links to their CVs, and where AP indicates that the nominee has listed the role as an “alternative portfolio” choice on the form):

President:

• Dr. Christian Budde (UFS) (CV_Budde)
• Prof. Sudan Hansraj (UKZN) (CV_Hansraj)
• Prof. Seithuti Moshokoa (TUT) (CV_Moshokoa)
• Dr. Simo Mthethwa (UKZN) (CV_Mthethwa) (AP)

 Vice-President:

• Prof. Maggie Aphane (SMU) (CV_Aphane)
• Dr. Christian Budde (UFS) (CV_Budde) (AP)
• Dr. Simo Mthethwa (UKZN) (CV_Mthethwa) (AP)

Financial Manager:

• Dr. Simo Mthethwa (UKZN) (CV_Mthethwa) (AP)

Liaison:

• Dr. Simo Mthethwa (UKZN) (CV_Mthethwa)

For more details on the responsibilities of the Council members and a description of these positions, kindly consult the SAMS website: https://www.sams.ac.za/governance-sams

We encourage all SAMS members to review the CVs of the nominees carefully to ensure that an informed decision can be made during the formal election at the AGM. In particular, members will have the opportunity to comment on each candidate’s suitability and to vote for the person they believe is best suited to the role. It is therefore essential that every vote is based on a well-considered assessment.

Any unfilled portfolios which result from the above election will receive interim appointments by ad-hoc nomination at the AGM.

We thank you in advance for your valuable contributions, and we look forward to your participation at this year’s AGM.

Fundamano: where mathematics meets theatre

Next week, there will be a third instalment of the Fundamano production: Drostdy Theatre in Stellenbosch on 28 August 2025 at 20:00! Tickets are available at www.webtickets.co.za (special rate for students and school learners). There are some sponsored seats as well, so please write to Professor Janelidze (zurab@sun.a.za) if you or your friends/family would like to be considered for those. 

This year’s production, filled with comedy, music, science and philosophy (as usual) will tackle the following question: what is the future of mathematics and quantum physics in an era where AI has replaced the human soul?

Poster: Fundamano3
Evolving digital poster: https://futuremath.net/fundamano

Fundamano 3 is a third edition of mathematics on stage production series, introduced during the international year of basic sciences for sustainable development in 2022 as a joint effort of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa, Department of Science and Innovation, the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences, South African Mathematical Society, Stellenbosch University and Wisaarkhu.

Dear SAMF Stakeholder,

It is a privilege to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of the South African Mathematics Foundation. I bring to this role more than three decades of experience as a mathematics educator and academic, including my most recent position as Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the Tshwane University of Technology.

Having served on SAMF’s Board of Directors for nearly a decade, I am deeply familiar with the Foundation’s mission and proud to now lead its efforts to advance mathematics education and advocacy across the country.

My priorities for the years ahead include strengthening the training of mathematics teachers, broadening access to our projects through targeted support for struggling learners, and ensuring the Foundation’s long-term financial sustainability. I also believe it is important to clarify that SAMF’s work complements—and does not compete with—that of other organisations working to build capacity in the mathematical sciences.

Thank you for the role you continue to play in supporting SAMF’s impact. I look forward to engaging with you as we take the Foundation’s work into its next chapter.

Warm regards,
Prof Seithuti Moshokoa
Executive Director
South African Mathematics Foundation

Awards and Student Prizes at the 2024 SAMS Congress

During the Gala Dinner at the 67th Annual Congress of SAMS, which was hosted at the University of Pretoria from 4 to 6 December 2024, we had the honour to recognize two individuals who have made immense contributions to Mathematics in South Africa. The 2024 SAMS Award for Research Distinction was bestowed on Prof. Stefan Veldsman, and Prof. Sudan Hansraj received the 2024 SAMS Award for the Advancement of Mathematics. Below are some photos showcasing the recipients with their Awards. A heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Veldsman on the left, and Prof. Hansraj on the right!

During the closing ceremony of the 2024 SAMS Congress, we also had the opportunity to recognize the best student talks at the event. The recipients of the respective prizes are shown below. Congratulations on this fine achievement! We look forward to witnessing your bright futures in Mathematics…

There is a crisis for the mathematical staff at Cardiff University where the University plans to drastically reduce the number of academics and students in the field. The London Mathematical Society are leading the resistance and below is a letter from their President.

Please consider signing this petition, and forward it on to your professional network. 

Some details about the situation can also be found here:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/cardiff-university-planned-cuts-risk-30982105

Urgent support for colleagues at Cardiff University

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to you in my role as President of the London Mathematical Society and Chair of the Campaign for the Mathematical Sciences.

Cardiff University is threatening up to half of its staff in pure and applied mathematics with compulsory redundancy, despite the department returning a significant surplus to the university.

As part of our campaign to avert these redundancies, we are now launching an open letter which can be viewed here:
https://tinyurl.com/2vjxurb9

If you are supportive and would like to sign, please fill in this form:
https://forms.gle/bqwZXMkajEVbucWe7

Your name should then automatically appear on the letter (refresh the form).

Feel free to forward this message to your professional network.

With many thanks for your support.

Best wishes,
Jens

Professor Jens Marklof FRS
Henry Overton Wills Chair, University of Bristol
President, London Mathematical Society
Chair, Campaign for the Mathematical Sciences

Join us for an online celebration of the International Day of Mathematics (IDM). Engage with mathematicians, observe fun demonstrations, and challenge yourself with our IDM quizzes.  The programme is open to all high school learners, undergraduate students and anyone keen to explore the world of mathematics. There are prizes to be won.

Date: 8 March 2025, Saturday
Time: 9 am – 11 am
Place: ZOOM Webinar
Register:  https://bit.ly/4hEwGuh

Memorandum of Understanding between CoE-MaSS, SAMF, and NGA(MaSS)

The National Graduate Academy for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (NGA(MaSS)), hosted by the University of Pretoria, has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (CoE-MaSS), hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand, and the South African Mathematics Foundation (SAMF). For more information, kindly read the attached communique.