A team of talented robotics learners from the Northern Cape is preparing to represent South Africa on the global stage at the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) in Slovenia.
Joining more than 200 teams from across the continent and around the world, they are gearing up to showcase their passion and skills in one of the most exciting STEM competitions of the year.
The competition is scheduled to take place from Tuesday, 2 to Thursday, 5 September 2025. The delegation will be accompanied and supported by SARAO’s Schools Professional Officer, Chantel Mathison, and the Coordinator of SARAO’s Robotics Schools Programme, Odwa Magabuko. The team’s efforts will be judged by a panel including Virgillian Kasper, SARAO Receiver Technician; volunteer Filliciano Skippers; and their dedicated teacher, Jeanine Mathison.
This exciting journey is powered by the steadfast support of SARAO and is a cornerstone of the organisation’s commitment to human capital development. As the home of the groundbreaking MeerKAT telescope and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), SARAO’s mission extends beyond exploring the cosmos; it is dedicated to building a legacy of skills and opportunity right here in South Africa. This initiative continues a history of support, having previously enabled Northern Cape robotics teams to compete in destinations such as Morocco and California, USA.
“The learners are extremely excited and really are true champions not only of South Africa, but also of the community. It is important to recognise that all of these interventions really do ensure that as SARAO we continue to deliver value and impact for all of our stakeholders, not only for the broader international community that use our telescopes, but also the local community in which we operate. MeerKAT and SARAO is really an excellent example of how we ensure continued social economic impact through our investment and activities” says Dr Adrian Tiplady, SARAO Deputy Managing Director: Strategy and Partnerships.
The Northern Cape team is ready to compete, collaborate, and learn, carrying the hopes of their community and showcasing South African ingenuity to the world.
About SARAO:
The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) is a facility of the National Research Foundation. It is responsible for managing all radio astronomy initiatives and facilities in South Africa, including the MeerKAT radio telescope and the South African component of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope. A key part of its mandate is human capital development and creating a pipeline of future engineers and scientists for the country.
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