Nigel Primary School to host national Gibela–WeSolve4x Maths Competition

Young mathematicians from Nigel, Heidelberg, and surrounding communities will have the chance to test their skills against learners from across the country when Nigel Primary School hosts the third annual Gibela–WeSolve4x Maths Competition next month.

The national competition, aimed at learners in grades four to seven, seeks to promote mathematics, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving while encouraging learners to approach mathematical challenges from different angles.

The competition, presented by the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium and WeSolve4x, will take place over two rounds, with the first round scheduled for October 10 and the final on November 14.

For the 2026 competition, Grade Five learners will write the competition by hand at Nigel Primary School, while learners in grades four, six and seven will participate online through the WeSolve4x App.

According to the organisers, the initiative aims to change how learners experience mathematics by encouraging them to focus not only on finding the correct answer, but also on understanding different methods of approaching and solving problems.

Learners who took part in last year’s competition highlighted the benefits of participating.

Nondumiso Khoza, who reached the Top 2 in 2025, said the competition introduced her to mathematical concepts and approaches that complemented what she was learning at school.

“The WeSolve4x maths competition helped a lot because there are some things we did not learn at my actual school that I got to learn about through the competition. It allowed me to learn things outside what I normally encounter in the classroom and helped me see mathematics from a different perspective,” she said.

Jayden Tshabalala, who reached the Top 5, said the competition helped him identify areas where he needed to improve while introducing him to alternative ways of solving mathematical problems.

“The competition has helped me with maths, mainly by pointing out areas where I have to pay more attention and by showing me other methods of working out questions.

“It taught me that there can be different ways of approaching a mathematical problem and that you do not always have to follow one method,” he said.

WeSolve4x CEO Tsietsi Ngobese said the competition forms part of efforts to encourage young people to become confident problem-solvers.

“We want learners to discover that mathematics is not simply about getting the right answer in a classroom. It is about curiosity, creativity, persistence and learning how to solve problems.

“Through the Gibela–WeSolve4x Maths Competition, we are creating an environment where young learners can test themselves, learn from others and begin to see the possibilities that mathematics can unlock for their future,” he said.

Gibela Executive for Corporate Services and Traction Motors Operations Dr Buyiswa Mncono-Liwani said the company’s involvement also aimed to develop young talent and encourage learners to build skills that could contribute to South Africa’s future.

“At Gibela, we believe that building South Africa’s future is about more than manufacturing trains. It is about investing in the people and skills that will drive our country forward. Mathematics is fundamental to engineering, innovation and problem-solving, and through our partnership with WeSolve4x we are proud to encourage young learners to develop these skills from an early age,” she said.

The 2025 competition attracted 5 297 learners, with 974 learners achieving 50% or more and qualifying for the final round. The initiative has also given high-performing learners opportunities to gain insight into Gibela’s rail manufacturing environment and learn how mathematics is applied in train design, manufacturing and other technical fields.

Schools, teachers, and parents in Nigel, Heidelberg, and surrounding areas are encouraged to ensure eligible learners register and prepare for the competition. The competition will be hosted at Nigel Primary School, 10 Hornsea Road, Ferryvale in Nigel.