Sasol awarded the top performing matrics in Mpumalanga during a ceremony held at the Lillian Ngoyi Centre in Secunda on January 13.

The top five performing learners in mathematics, physical science, technical mathematics and technical science, each received R10 000 from Sasol.

This money will go towards these learners’ registration fees at any recognised South African institution of higher education.

This sponsorship of the provincial Grade 12 awards is part of a long-standing partnership between Sasol and the Mpumalanga Department of Education.

Tshamani Mathebula, Sasol’s Head of Foundation, said awarding top-achievers is in line with Sasol’s strategic objective of supporting the teaching of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in schools and is also geared to accelerate the uptake of technical subjects by learners.

“Sasol’s ambition is to be a transformational leader in education, fuelling the growth of human potential in the fields of engineering, science and technology.

“We see ourselves as a uniquely positioned catalyst partner to government and other stakeholders in the industry, in the development of critical skills and workforce for the future world of work.”

Sasol has, over the years, made considerable investments in education, through various initiatives such as merit bursaries, sponsorship of mobile science labs to under resourced schools, the Sasol Energy Innovation Challenge and the national skills competition.

According to Mathebula these initiatives play a vital role in enabling excellence in science education and encourage learners to take up subjects that drive innovation and prepare them for future skills.

For the past 30 years, Sasol has been hosting Grade 12 Merit Awards in Secunda, where learners from various districts were recognised and awarded their outstanding performance in key subjects.

Mathebula said this year, Sasol will continue to recognise top achievers at district level across Mpumalanga, and will not host the Grade 12 Merit Awards.