Northern Cape Robotics Teams dominate FIRST LEGO League Northern Nationals, showcasing STEM excellence – South African Radio Astronomy Observatory – NRF/SARAO

Robotics stars shine bright in Johannesburg 

The Sci-Bono Centre in Johannesburg was abuzz with innovation and excitement as it hosted the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Northern National Competition on 5 and 6 December 2025. This premier robotics event brought together 72 teams from various provinces, featuring young minds aged 4 to 18 years old ready to showcase their engineering and problem-solving skills.

Among the fierce competitors, teams hailing from the Northern Cape — the City Sweepers, Sharp Shooters, Circuit Breakers, and Northern Predators — delivered an absolutely stellar performance, underscoring the region’s growing strength in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). These teams are proudly supported by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), the home of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, which invests heavily in developing future scientists and engineers.

In attendance was Milisa Kentane, SARAO”s Communications and Stakeholder Relations Manager; Virgilian Kasper, Receiver Technician at SARAO and one of the head judges at the competition Chantel Mathison, Professional Officer for the Schools Programme within the Human Capital Development Programme; Filliciano Skippers, intern within the Human Capital Development Programme; Mulalo Masisi, web developer at SARAO; Liyono Daniel Vanwyk, referee from Carnarvon; Chante Mathison, referee from Carnarvon; Caven Vries from the Northern Cape Department of Education; and Janine Mathison, a teacher from the Carnarvon Primary School.

A Sweep of Top Awards for the Northern Cape

The level of competition was exceptionally high, yet the dedication and skill of the Northern Cape teams resulted in a remarkable haul of awards:

• 2nd Place Robot Performance Award: Team City Sweepers (Mxolisi du Preez, John-Dre Klaaste, Granecia Malgas and Danwill van der Berg) from the Northern Cape secured a phenomenal 2nd place robot performance award finish with an impressive score of 410 points, demonstrating brilliant strategy and execution.
• 3rd Place Robot Performance Award and 2nd place Robot Design Award Winners: Team Sharp Shooters (Eugenio Nuwegeld, Farren Louw, Kilermo Gouws, Roswell Pipes and Courtney Links) not only clinched 3rd place robot performance award with 405 points but also proudly walked away with the highly coveted 2nd place Robot Design Award.
• Breakthrough Award: Team Northern Predators (Logan Nyl, Oswald Smith, Jamie-Lee Mienies andLee-Shay Appies) was honoured with the Breakthrough Award, recognising their outstanding progress and teamwork.
• Rising All-Star Award: Team Circuit Breakers (Shervodian Farmers, Lincoln de Wee, Jerome Visagie and Sharon Malgas) was acknowledged for their potential and spirit by winning the Rising All-Star Award.

A future powered by STEM

While an international invitation was not extended this year, the exceptional achievements of these learners are a testament to the powerful impact of dedicated educational support.

SARAO, through its Human Capital Development (HCD) Schools Programme led by Mathison, remains steadfast in its commitment to nurture these talented learners. The programme will continue to provide the resources and mentorship necessary for students across the Northern Cape to excel in STEM, ensuring that South Africa’s next generation of innovators is ready to take on global challenges.

A special and heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible volunteers whose tireless efforts and passion are the backbone of the FIRST LEGO League competition. They truly make these inspiring events possible.

Congratulations once again to all the participating teams and the award-winning students from the Northern Cape! We look forward to seeing your future successes.