Top Students Selected for Prestigious 2025 NSTF Brilliants Programme and LIYSF

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2024/2025 NSTF Brilliants Programme – for our future STEM professionals, innovators and leaders
#NSTFbrilliants2025 #NSTFawards2025

‘Hey June’, hello Youth Month… It’s a good time to celebrate the talented young people selected for the NSTF Brilliants Programme! The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) is recognising the 19 selected top performers in physical science and mathematics studying in the sciences. Join the NSTF and sponsors, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), and South32, in applauding the students selected from all nine provinces in South Africa (SA) for the esteemed 2025 NSTF Brilliants Programme. This annual programme is unique to the NSTF since 2001, giving prestigious recognition on a national stage to students for their outstanding performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in physical science and mathematics every year.

Furthermore, seven of these students are on their way to London! The NSTF is excited to announce that its partnership with the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) continues for a third year for selected students of the NSTF Brilliants Programme to attend the LIYSF in the United Kingdom (UK). This year, SEVEN students (up from 3 in 2024) are attending from 23 July to 6 August 2025. This 15-day programme welcomes about 500 of the best young science students from over 80 countries. LIYSF 2025 will explore future developments in the sciences with lecture demonstrations, specialist seminars and debates led by a team of scientists and experts. Attendance of the LIYSF is generously sponsored by the DSTI and South32 – shout-out to them!

Meet the students of the 2025 NSTF Brilliants Programme and LIYSF:

Eastern Cape
Ms Sinothando Matsha Soqhayisa Senior Secondary School (SSS) MBChB (Medicine) Stellenbosch University (SU) Bursary: None
Mr Sivikele Majebe Xolilizwe SSS BSc (Statistics, Data Science and Computer Science) University of Cape Town (UCT) Bursary and Merit Award: FirstRand Empowerment Foundation and UCT Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship
Free State
Ms Susan Bender Voortrekker Secondary School (SS) MBChB (Medicine) University of the Free State (UFS) Bursary and Merit Award: Kovsie Alumni Trust
Mr Lehlohonolo Mokhothu (also selected for LIYSF) Jc Motumi SS BEng (Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering) UCT Bursary and Merit Award: ProMaths Bursary
Gauteng
Ms Kagiso Tele (also selected for LIYSF) Lesedi SS MBChB (Medicine) University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Bursary and Merit Award: FirstRand Empowerment Foundation and Wits Vice-Chancellor Merit Award
Mr Ntsako Thato Ringane Boitshepo SS MBChB (Medicine) Wits Bursary and Merit Award: Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) and Wits Entrance Scholarship
KwaZulu-Natal
Ms Fanelesibonge Amanda Ngema (also selected for LIYSF) Vukile High School (HS) MBChB (Medicine) UCT Bursary and Merit Award: FirstRand Foundation Trust and UCT Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship
Mr Bonga Alwande Sibeko Izazi SS MBChB (Medicine) UCT Bursary: None
Limpopo
Ms Mmatsiane Tshegofatso Komane Marobathotha HS MBChB (Medicine) UCT Bursary and Merit Award: eNtsika Foundation
Mr Rinono Nkateko Mushwana EPP Mhinga SS MBChB (Medicine) UCT Bursary and Merit Award: Phalaborwa Mining Company and UCT Blue Carpet Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship
Mpumalanga
Ms Gugu Pioneer Rose Libambo (also selected for LIYSF) Mphanama SS MBChB (Medicine) UCT Bursary and Merit Award: FirstRand Empowerment Foundation and UCT Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship
Mr Takatso Obrey Sibanda (also selected for LIYSF) Tholulwazi SS BEng (Mechanical Engineering) University of Johannesburg (UJ) Bursary: None
North West
Ms Thobeka Siphesihle Langa JM Ntsime HS BEng (Chemical Engineering) University of Pretoria (UP) Bursary and Merit Award: FirstRand Empowerment Foundation
Mr Jurie Johannes Blignaut (also selected for LIYSF) Rustenburg HS MBChB (Medicine) UFS Bursary and Merit Award: FirstRand Study Trust, Matriculant of the Year: ABSA, and ABSA Top Performer Quintile 4 NSC
Northern Cape (a tie between two male students)
Ms Cherise Angelique Müller Hoërskool (HS) Diamantveld BSc (Chemistry and Mathematics) North-West University (NWU) Bursary and Merit Award: Anglo American Top 20 Award, PEP Stores and NWU Merit Award
Mr Andre De Boer (also selected for LIYSF) Hoërskool (HS) Diamantveld BEng (Industrial Engineering) SU Bursary and Merit Award: MerSETA and Northern Cape Top 20 Prize
Mr Kgopolo Danny Ibang Galaletsang Science SS BSc (Computer Science and Informatics) UJ Bursary and Merit Award: South Hill Trading
Western Cape
Ms Sarah Ann Haveman Hoërskool (HS) Durbanville BSc (Chemistry) SU Bursary: None
Mr Matthew Christopher Wise Pinelands HS BSc (Statistics, Data Science and Computer Science) UCT Bursary and Merit Award: UCT Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship, Arthur Bostock Entrance Scholarship and GA Reynolds Entrance Scholarship

Key statistics of the Brilliants Programme students:

Their average mark in Grade 12 (NSC) physical science and mathematics: 97%
Breakdown of study fields: 53% are studying medicine, 21% engineering and 26% BSc courses
Where are they studying? 42% is enrolled at UCT, 16% at SU, 11% at Wits, UJ and UFS respectively, and 1 student each at UP and NWU
Their demographic profiles? 68% are black and 32% white; with 47% female and 53% male
What kind of schools did they attend? (According to the Department of Basic Education’s rating system, quintile 1 is for the most poorly resourced schools, and quintile 5 is for the best resourced schools):

o 63% are from quintile 1-3 schools
o 32% are from quintile 1-2 schools
o 11% from quintile 1 (least resourced schools)
o 37% are from quintile 5 and 4 (well-resourced) schools
o 26% are from quintile 5 (best resourced) schools

Life Sciences: 84% of students also wrote life sciences in matric and their average for the subject is 94%

Tour to science-related facilities:
A further prize for the students is participation in a STEM-related educational tour every year. (STEM = science, technology, engineering and mathematics.) This year the students who are not attending the LIYSF in London, will be treated to a local tour consisting of visits to a variety of research facilities in Gauteng and North West provinces (about 10 sites over 3 days) that will introduce them to aerospace science, astronomy, palaeontology, biodiversity, IT and innovation, nuclear science/medicine, and agro-processing.

Attendance at the ‘Science Oscars’ of SA:
The Brilliants students are invited to attend the prestigious annual NSTF-South32 Awards Gala Event, hosted in both Cape Town and Johannesburg simultaneously. The Awards, known as the ‘Science Oscars of SA’, recognises the top professionals, teams and organisations in science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation in SA. The gala event is live-streamed for the public from both cities. Some of the students are selected to address the audience on their life stories and why they have chosen STEM-related courses.

Nelson Mandela famously stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” He emphasised the transformative power of education, highlighting its role in personal development and contributing to nation-building.

NSTF sings the praises of the parents, guardians, educators, schools, mentors, family and friends, of these brilliant young people, as well as the provincial departments of education that supported, motivated and encouraged the development of these brilliant young minds to achieve the success they did!

About Post Author

KWANELE NGOBESE

I am a media and communications professional with a focus on public relations and digital content. At After 12 Communications, I manage social media platforms and publish articles that inform, engage, and elevate the brand’s voice. Passionate about storytelling and digital engagement, I bring creativity, consistency, and strategy to every project I work on. Follow me on Twitter: @Kwanele_Coms

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