South African Centre for High Performance Computing team wins second place in international Student Cluster Competition
As South Africa celebrates Youth Month 2025 under the theme "Skills for the changing world: Empowering youth for meaningful economic participation", the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) is proud to highlight the achievements of young South African talent on the international stage.
The South African team from the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) has won an impressive second place finish at the online component of the International Student Cluster Competition, held in Hamburg, Germany, from 10 to 12 June 2025.
The CHPC is a pillar of the National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System, supported by the DSTI. The team's outstanding achievement reaffirms South Africa's growing presence in the field of high-performance computing and demonstrates how investing in youth skills development can yield world-class results.
The team – comprising six students and one reserve from leading South African universities – beat 21 other university teams from across the globe, showing remarkable skill, resilience and teamwork throughout the competition.
The members are:
- Kapil Ramlall – Electrical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand
- Thina Calana – Computer Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
- Lisa Pitsi – Computer Science, University of the Western Cape
- Tebogo Diraditsile – Computer Engineering, CPUT
- Allen Van Dieman – Computer Engineering, CPUT
- Abdullah Jaffer – Computer Engineering, CPUT
- Anna Lukose (reserve member) – Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Cape Town
Guided by their mentors and equipped with a 3-node high-performance computing cluster sponsored by Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, the team demonstrated excellence in performance, energy efficiency and technical presentation.
The CHPC has a proud history of producing top-tier student teams that have consistently ranked among the best in the world. This year's result continues that legacy, proving once again that South African youth are not only ready for the challenges of the future, but are already shaping it.
