Mukuru Education Fund Bursary Student Tackles Challenges That Could Change Our World

Mukuru bursary recipient Ngonidzashe Tinago has excelled at not one, but two vigorous datathon challenges! 

Ngonidzashe led the Tech Titans team, representing Sol Plaatje University (SPU) at the NEMISA Digital Skills Datathon that took place at UNISA Pretoria, 17-19 November.  

The event brought together various stakeholders to explore the intersection of digital skills, economic uncertainty, and unemployment. Teams had to analyse large datasets and create innovative solutions that can help policymakers and practitioners address the challenges and opportunities that could change our world. 

Ngonidzashe’s team chose to focus on the sub-theme of Renewable Energy and Technology, applying robust academic and practical enquiry to the challenge of promoting renewable energy in a way that effectively encourages a greater reliance on renewables over coal energy currently produced by Eskom.  

Ngonidzashe says, “We looked at solutions to mitigate load shedding to reduce the strain on the grid. A vigorous and strenuous activity of course, but we managed to pull through to the top 5 of the competition and secure a R10 000 prize. Next year, February, we will be in East London where we will compete for the top spot and R100 000 in prize money. 

Next up for Ngonidzashe, was the Data Intensive Research Initiative of South Africa (DIRISA) Student Datathon Challenge, 3-8 December. 

DIRISA is one of the components of the National Integrated Cyber Infrastructure System managed by the CSIR on behalf of the Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa. The event showcases ways in which open research data can be used to find creative and innovative solutions to some of South Africa’s socioeconomic challenges. 

Ngonidzashe’s SPU Domain’ators team were awarded first place, ahead of nine other teams – their solution judged as the best in the research and technical challenge! 

He says, “During both the datathons, I realised there is a massive shortage of knowledge among young people about the importance and use of data in our daily lives. There is so much knowledge about tech, but people are not aware of the data behind the software they use every day of their lives.” 

Personally, Ngonidzashe says of the experience, “It has proven to me that I do have the ability to go beyond where others have stepped, or where others have stopped seeking out solutions. 

“It is just a matter of tapping into that potential. And I believe it isn’t just me, but anyone out there has the potential to go beyond boundaries. To be able to take a step further. The team representing our school last year took third place in the technology challenge and for someone else, that might have been good enough. But we chose to take a step further, and that took us to first position which had seemed untouchable before.”