The South African flag was flown high at the 1923 International Mathematics, Science and Engineering Fair (IMSEF), held in Izmir, Türkiye, from 1 to 6 June 2026.
The country was represented by three learners: Connor Kinnes from Elkanah House High School in Cape Town (Grade 11), Joshua Danilatos from Graeme College in Makhanda (Grade 11), and Rorisang Mohau Mohlobuli from Hoërskool Bloemfontein in the Free State (Grade 9). They were led by Eskom Expo Ekurhuleni Regional Science Fair Director, Palesa Selepe.
They received top honours as follows:
- Kinnes – First place and a gold medal in the Engineering category, as well as Best Project in Engineering
- Danilatos – First place and a gold medal in the Biology category
- Mohlobuli – Second place and a silver medal in the Mathematics category
The trio reflected on their achievements, describing them as a proud moment, and expressed hope that their success will inspire change and innovation among their peers.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Eskom Development Foundation, Mologadi Motshele, applauded the learners for what she described as high-quality and exceptional research. She further reaffirmed Eskom’s commitment to investing in young scientists.
“Through Eskom’s support of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, we are investing in experiences that extend beyond the competition itself. These international opportunities expose learners to new ideas, cultures and ways of thinking, while helping them develop the skills, networks and confidence needed to succeed in an international research community. Seeing our young scientists present their projects with professionalism and pride, and then achieve such outstanding results, reinforces the value of this investment,” Motshele said.
She concluded by encouraging young people to register their research projects and participate in Eskom’s District Expos, which are currently underway in all nine provinces across the country.
