Mathematics Education in South Africa gets a sustainable boost for 2026 and beyond!
The JumpStart Foundation is the new home for the NumberSense Mathematics Programme
The year has kicked off on a high note with an important update and development that strengthens mathematics education in South Africa.
The JumpStart Foundation and Brombacher & Associates (B&A) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership that brings the NumberSense Mathematics Programme into a new phase of stability, growth, and long-term sustainability.
Both our organisations work exclusively in mathematics education, with a strong focus on teacher development and foundational numeracy skills. We also share a common vision: improving mathematics outcomes in every classroom, in every school, across South Africa.
Following the untimely and tragic passing in January 2025 of B&A founder, owner, and key contributing NumberSense author, Aarnout Brombacher, JumpStart was invited to acquire B&A and its NumberSense Mathematics Programme. This transition represents a logical and carefully considered next step, grounded in a long-standing working relationship between our two organisations.
JumpStart was one of the earliest adopters of the NumberSense Mathematics Programme over 15 years ago and continues to use the NumberSense workbooks as an effective and proven pedagogy that supports strong mathematics teaching in the early grades. This well-established relationship has enabled JumpStart to support more than 200,000 learners across five provinces, helping to build solid foundations for future learning and opportunity — a vision shared by Aarnout and carried forward through this partnership.
What this means going forward
JumpStart and Brombacher & Associates will continue to operate as separate legal entities, each retaining their existing teams, programmes, and operational models. For schools, partners, and suppliers, it is very much business as usual.
The added value of this partnership lies in:
- strengthened leadership and governance
- knowledge sharing and quality assurance
- continued innovation in early-grade mathematics
- a renewed commitment to expanding NumberSense to reach more teachers and learners nationwide
Over the past year, B&A has continued to thrive under the experienced leadership of Melanie Gow, who remains head of B&A management and will continue to lead the team in dedicated service to all partners and suppliers.
Ensuring the long-term future of B&A and the NumberSense Mathematics Programme was critically important to the B&A executive. Following a due diligence process and in consultation with the JumpStart board, a JumpStart-led consortium was formed to formalise the acquisition through historical reserves.
The JumpStart-led consortium includes:
- The JumpStart Foundation, represented by its Executive Director, Lufuno Muthubi-Mthethwa
- Themba Gamedze, a long-standing trustee and mentor to the JumpStart Board, and a C-suite executive serving on multiple reputable South African boards
- Stephen Mahony, founder and trustee of the JumpStart Foundation, and a long-standing partner to Aarnout Brombacher and the Brombacher & Associates team
- JumpCO, a founding company and early funder of JumpStart, led by Stephen Mahony as CEO
- Other minority shareholders, who are long-standing supporters of JumpStart and its mission
Collectively, the consortium brings decades of experience across education research and development, early-grade mathematics learning, teacher development, finance, technology, governance, and organisational leadership. This breadth of expertise provides a strong foundation for stability, accountability, and continued impact.
As Brombacher & Associates and the JumpStart Foundation enter this new chapter, it is important to remember the true beneficiaries of this partnership: South Africa’s teachers and learners. They remain our unwavering focus.
Our ambition is not simply to maintain the status quo, but to continually raise the bar by expanding the NumberSense Mathematics Programme to more classrooms, more schools, and more provinces, so that more young people can access the opportunities created by a fast-changing, digital economy.
Our sincere gratitude goes to all our partners and supporters who help make this important work not only possible, but impactful.
Thank you
On behalf of both the Brombacher & Associates and the JumpStart Foundation teams
JumpStart leadership joins Brombacher & Associates shareholder group
Stephen Mahony
Founder & CEO – JumpStart, CEO – JumpCO, Director – Brombacher and Associates
Stephen Mahony has extensive experience in business, social and commercial entrepreneurship, software engineering, and skills development, with a career spanning more than three decades. He has worked at the intersection of technology, education, and social impact, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to innovation and delivery. Stephen is deeply invested in education and youth development with an emphasis in critical pathways into the digital economy. He is a founder and CEO of the JumpStart Foundation, and the JumpCO group of companies. He has been a long-standing partner to Aarnout Brombacher and the Brombacher & Associates team. He takes up an appointment as Director at Brombacher & Associates.
Themba Gamedze
Director, Actuary, Trustee, NED – Brombacher and Associates
Themba Gamedze is an actuary by profession with significant experience in governance, finance, and institutional oversight. He serves on the boards of several blue-chip companies, like Discovery Life and Discovery Health, and is a Director of a number of local South African companies. Historically he was the head of the Black Actuarial Society of South Africa and was appointed by the Minister of Finance as the specialist investment trustee for the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). Deeply committed to education and social development Themba has served on the board of the Jumpstart Foundation since 2016 and for other local non Profit organisations, notably in Child Protection. Themba brings deep expertise in fiduciary responsibility, risk management, and long-term organisational stewardship. Themba joins the board of Brombacher and Associates as a non-executive Director.
Graham Bingham
Director & CTO, JumpCO
Graham Bingham is the CTO and a Director at JumpCO, a premier software consultancy serving blue-chip clients across Africa. A seasoned consultant with over 30 years of experience Graham has specialized in software architecture and large-scale technical implementations. Throughout his career, he has delivered high-value solutions for the banking, telecommunications, and education sectors as well as servicing international clients with Computer Associates (CA) Europe over a number of years. He is the visionary architect behind JumpTrak™, an innovative eLearning suite, which features cutting-edge AI-driven marking tools. As a trusted C-level advisor Graham contributes strong operational, commercial, and technology oversight to the consortium. He holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this a merger?
No. JumpStart and Brombacher & Associates remain separate legal entities. This is a strategic acquisition designed to secure and strengthen the future of the NumberSense Mathematics Programme.
Will the NumberSense programme change?
No. The programme, materials, and methodology remain unchanged. Schools and educators can expect continuity, quality, and ongoing support.
Will existing teams and relationships remain in place?
Yes. Both organisations retain their expert teams, leadership, and operational models. Existing partnerships and supplier relationships continue as before.
Why JumpStart?
JumpStart has a long history with the NumberSense Mathematics Programme and was one of its earliest adopters. The organisation shares a deep alignment with B&A’s values and Aarnout Brombacher’s vision for improving early-grade mathematics outcomes.
What does this mean for schools and educators?
It means stability, continuity, and strengthened support, with a renewed focus on expanding access to high-quality mathematics teaching and learning across South Africa.
Was donor funding used to purchase B&A
No. No donor funds were invested in this acquisition. JumpStart’s investment has been funded from historical reserves. All donor contributions remain ring-fenced to be used exclusively for JumpStart programme delivery, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
For more information contact:
JumpStart Foundation: lufuno@jumpstart.org.za
Brombacher & Associates: melanie@brombacher.co.za