THE juvenile hominid skeleton unveiled to the world by Professor Lee Berger of Wits University just over a month ago has been given a new name - Karabo.

Alabantu, Sibuko, Motimedi and Jabulani were some of the shortlisted names but Karabo, which means "answer" in Setswana, was submitted by Omphemetse Keepile, 17, a pupil at St Mary's School in Waverley, Johannesburg. Omphemetse says she came up with the name Karabo because "it suggests that answers are present and that more answers will follow".

"It has helped researchers to seek much deeper into the information that they have and the information that they will acquire through this discovery. It has enabled them to broaden their former understanding of the concept of humankind," she says.

There were more than 15000 submissions in the naming competition sponsored by Standard Bank and PAST in association with Wits University and the Department of Science and Technology.

Omphemetse received R75000 from Standard Bank towards her education.