June is celebrated as Youth Month. The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) marks 25 years of the NSTF Brilliants Programme by recognising and honouring 22 top performing students.
These young people are future leaders and a source of pride for South Africa (SA), recognised for their outstanding maths and science performance (mostly of 90% and above), and for pursuing science-related study fields.
Students receive national recognition on the prestigious stage of the NSTF-South32 Awards, known as the ‘Science Oscars’ of SA, where the top professionals in science, engineering, technology (SET) and innovation will be crowned.
The programme is sponsored by longstanding partners, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP).
Furthermore, eight students have been selected to participate in the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) in London, UK from 19 July to 1 August 2026. This 14-day programme welcomes about 500 of the best young science students from over 90 countries. LIYSF 2026 will explore future developments in the sciences with lecture demonstrations, specialist seminars and debates led by a team of scientists and experts.
The students selected for the 2026 NSTF Brilliants Programme and the LIYSF are:
- Emma Caroline Booyens – Clarendon Girls High School (HS), MBChB (Medicine) University of Stellenbosch (SU)
- Asasithanda Yokwe – Motherwell HS, BEng (Mechanical Engineering) University of Cape Town (UCT)
- Janeli Saaiman – Fouche Secondary School (SS). MBChB (Medicine) University of the Free State (UFS)
- Nyakallo Junior Hlakoane (also selected for LIYSF) – Teto SS, BSc (Computer Science, Data Science and Statistics) UCT
- Mmalata Tania Motimele (also selected for LIYSF) – Diepsloot Secondary No 2, MBChB (Medicine) UCT
- Sabiha Wadee (also selected for LIYSF) – Parktown Girls HS, MBChB (Medicine) University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
- Nakampe Johannes Junior Ngaka (also selected for LIYSF) – Buhle Park SS, MBChB (Medicine) UCT
- Khayelihle Siphesihle Mhlongo (also selected for LIYSF) – Mpilisweni SS. BEng (Mechatronics Engineering) SU
- Londeka Hlengiwe Tyra Mkhize – Sidelile HS, MBChB (Medicine) UCT
- Cayden Reece Packreeappen – Verulam SS, BEng (Electrical Engineering) University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
- Paballo Mohlago Rose Makokga (also selected for LIYSF) – Hoërskool Noorderland, MBChB (Medicine) UCT
- Christene Beukes – Merensky Agricultural Academy, BScAgric (Applied Plant and Soil Sciences) University of Pretoria (UP)
- Jan Tshepang Mokgohlwa – Mamolemane SS, BEng (Electrical Engineering) University of Johannesburg (UJ)
- Luyanda Ndhlozi – Elangwane SS, BEng (Mechatronics Engineering) UCT
- Siphesihle Blessing Mondlane – Zikodze SS, BEng (Electrical Engineering) Wits
- Kari Adriana Louw – Hoërskool Upington, BEng (Industrial Engineering) SU
- Osego Erwin JR Lucas – Baitiredi Technical & Commercial HS, BEng (Electrical Engineering) UCT
- Caitlin Mans – Hoër Volkskool, BSc (Biological Sciences with Microbiology and Biochemistry) North-West University (NWU)
- Temogo Matong (also selected for LIYSF) – Setswakgosing HS, MBChB (Medicine) UCT
- Sandrine Steyn – DF Malan HS, MBChB (Medicine) SU
- Sibella Annalore Murray (also selected for LIYSF) – Hoërskool Durbanville, BSc (Biodiversity and Ecology) SU
- Sebastian Charles Steer – Rondebosch Boys’ HS, BEng (Mechatronics Engineering) SU
Why the NSTF Brilliants Programme?
Scientific solutions for South African problems: It is critical for the future of our country that enough good passes in matric physical science and maths are produced, and that some of these young people make a choice for studies and careers in STEM fields, including medicine. The NSTF encourages students to complete their studies in STEM-related fields as far as they possibly can and find their way to one of the many interesting and fulfilling related careers. SA’s ability to solve its problems and be competitive internationally in research and innovation depends on this.
So far, more than 442 top-performing students have been recognised, inspired and motivated, with a large number of these assisted with bursaries, over the past 25 years.
Key statistics of the 2026 Brilliants Programme students:
Their average mark in Grade 12 (NSC) mathematics and physical science: 95.7%
Breakdown of study fields: 41% are studying medicine, 41% engineering and 18% other STEM-related courses
Where are they studying? 41% enrolled at UCT, 27% at SU, 9% at Wits, and 1 student each at UKZN, UFS, UP, UJ and NWU
Their demographic profiles? 64% are black and 36% white, with 55% female and 45% male
What kind of schools did they attend?
(According to the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) rating system, quintile 1 is for the most poorly resourced schools, and quintile 5 is for the best resourced schools):
- 41% are from quintile 1-3 schools
- 23% are from quintile 1-2 schools
- 9% from quintile 1 (least resourced schools)
- 59% are from quintile 5 and 4 (well-resourced) schools
- 45% are from quintile 5 (best resourced) schools
Life Sciences: 91% of students also wrote life sciences in matric and their average for the subject is 93%
Tour to science-related facilities
A further prize for the students is participation in a STEM-related educational tour every year. This year, the tour will consist of visits to a variety of research facilities in Cape Town, and surrounding areas in the Western Cape province that will introduce them to, for example: research in brain health and rare diseases, astronomy, biodiversity, digital innovation and space science.