We are more than half way through 2023! I hope the year has been treating you well – look after yourself but keep at the hard work with a smile. There are many things to be despondent about; electricity, or lack of it, for one, and the large loads our Statistics departments take on. However, having been in the US in July for a research trip and attendance of the Spatial Statistics conference in Boulder, Colorado, I am reminded of how beautiful our country is despite the issues. What is particularly special about academia in South Africa are exactly the challenges. Even though we have large classes, limited resources and hands, and students who are ill-prepared for university studies, this makes it all worth it. In South Africa, we can make a real difference in someone’s life in our classes. These are students who without our effort would not change their and their family’s lives. Academics in the US and Europe don’t have the opportunities to change the lives of so many. We work hard but at least we are working for something important. 

I have been working closely this year with the current South African Mathematical Society’s (SAMS) president, Prof Zurab Janelidze from Stellenbosch University. In particular, on 12-13 June 2023 we organised a meeting in Stellenbosch to discuss how to put together a plan for a National Strategy in Mathematical Sciences. If you missed it, our Mathematics school education is in a bad state. In 2021, 77% of the matric students (11% of all matric students) who do Mathematics, achieved less than 50%.  This is quite alarming when reminded of this constant state of our Mathematics education. In response to this and the knock-on effect into mathematical orientated degrees at university, Prof Janelidze and I, with the extensive help of Prof Loyiso Nongxa, invited a number of stakeholders to brainstorm significant solutions to Mathematics in South Africa. With short notice the meeting was very productive with important role players involved, namely, SASA, SAMS, AIMS, AMESA, NGA-MaSS, NITheCS, SAGS, SAMF, SAMSA, SANUM, COE-MaSS, a number of young academics, as well as guests from ASSAf, Wisaarkhu, amongst others. A weblink of the meeting strategy and attendees is available here.

The meeting discussed the important factors we need to consider to really tackle Mathematical Sciences in South Africa, at school level, university level as well as educator level. The proceedings of the discussions are here and are now available for consideration by SASA members. Three categories of national challenges were proposed, namely 1) Knowledge Exchange Challenges, 2) Representation Challenges, and 3) Training Challenges. In the proceedings, specific issues for each of these are listed. This meeting was particularly important in our Statistics community as the first proper discussion across the mathematical sciences, including mathematics teachers. The next step in the actions Towards a National Strategy for Mathematical Sciences is for feedback from our associations, namely YOU. You are thus invited to comment on the proceedings, suggest additional stakeholders that should be consulted and join in task teams where you believe you would like to play a part. 

My concurrent positions at ICCSSA as CEO and SACNASP as a council member are valuable for SASA’s progress in South Africa. ICCSSA has signed their MOU with SACNASP and all current ICCSSA members are being transferred over to SACNASP. It is important for all Statisticians that the symbiotic relationship between SASA, ICCSSA and SACNASP can be nurtured going forward. 

Lastly, I look forward to seeing you at SASA 2023 in Durban. Don’t miss out on a conference on the beach! The LOC have organised a discount on the accommodation in the hotel where the conference is held, at a very affordable rate. Our UKZN colleagues are known for their fun and SASA 2023 promises no less. The conference proceedings are also open for submission. This is an excellent consideration to publish your research. Please encourage your postgraduates particularly to submit, as it is a helpful but gentle stepping stone to a full journal paper. 

All the best for the last bit of 2023. See you in Durban!