Young math-whizz (9) makes Gauteng team

Nine-year-old Lauretta (Lolo) Lebuso will put most adults to shame with her advanced skills in the intricate art of mathematics.

A learner at Laerskool Roodekrans, Lolo lives with her family in Willowbrook and speaks fluent Afrikaans.

She acknowledges shyly that she is one of, if not the top, math learner in her school.

She has also been selected as part of the Gauteng team to take part in the 19th A+ Students National Mathematics Championship to be held in October.

“I learned Afrikaans at school,” she says proudly.

According to mom Ursula, Lolo has been fascinated with riddles and puzzles – especially those to do with numbers – since she was a small child.

“She is endlessly curious when it comes to numbers,” she says. “She started building puzzles and solving riddles when she was about three.

“So, when we saw an A+ Students Abacus Maths school a few years ago, it immediately clicked for us.”

For Lolo, maths is like a second language – where for the rest of us, it might seem like Greek.

“She just can’t get enough of math,” her beaming father Zonge says, adding he’s not sure where her passion for all things mathematics comes from.

“We sent her to Roodekrans because we were impressed with their approach to the education of children and we wanted to give her the best possible education.”

Lolo, an enthusiastic, friendly little girl, rushes off to her bedroom, fetches her impressive collection of medals, certificates, and trophies, and emerges clutching her 2024 Gauteng team tracksuit under one arm.

“I can work out what day of the week you were born on if you tell me your birthday,” she says, pulling closer a pencil and paper, already muttering the numbers to herself as she does the complex calculations in her head.

What is she most excited about?

“If I get selected for the national team, I get to go overseas,” she says.