Elandspark’s ‘Whizkid’ empowers youth with free coding lessons and tech talks
Simphiwe Radebe teams up with UJ and UNISA tech communities to inspire the next generation of African developers, offering daily livestreams, mentorship, and practical coding guidance.
Simphiwe ‘Whizkid’ Radebe of Elandspark continues to empower youth in technology with free daily lessons and talks, in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg and the Geekulcha Student Society (GKSS) at UNISA.
“Over the last few weeks, I had the opportunity to speak and teach in spaces I believe are becoming critical to building the next generation of African developers. The response has been overwhelming,” he said.
UJ Developer Society Launch – May 10
“I was invited to speak at the official launch of the UJ Developer Society at the University of Johannesburg. The society aims to give students real-world development exposure and practical workshops that go beyond theory.
“I shared my journey as a self-taught developer – how I used platforms like TikTok and YouTube to learn and grow – and encouraged students to build their first project without waiting for permission.
“The feedback and questions from the students showed how much something like this was needed,” he said.
GKSS Sunday Talk – May 25
“I joined a Sunday Talk hosted by GKSS at UNISA. GKSS is one of South Africa’s leading youth technology communities, dedicated to fostering campus innovation and leadership in technology.
“I spoke about Android development and how platforms like GKSS help students grow through collaboration, mentorship and exposure. It was a powerful session focused on skills and how to find community while learning to code,” noted Simphiwe.
FNB App Academy Help – Daily Livestreams (launched on May 9)
“To complement the formal sessions, I also launched the FNB App Academy Help series on May 9. It is a free, daily series of coding livestreams I host every night at 20:00 (SAST) on YouTube and TikTok.
“I break down content from the FNB App Academy curriculum into bite-sized lessons that people can join live, follow along with, and ask questions during in real time.
“Since launching it, the response has been incredible. The live chat stays active, viewers return every night, and some are already building small projects from just a few sessions.
“Everything is free because I know what it’s like to want to learn but not have access to resources or guidance. Whether it’s a student in a township curious about technology or someone retraining after a job loss, I want these sessions to feel like someone is finally in their corner — breaking things down step by step and showing them they belong in tech too.”
“These lessons are aimed at beginners – especially those who have never coded before. I simplify content from the FNB App Academy curriculum into bite-sized lessons that people can join live, follow along with, and ask questions in real time,” he explained.
Follow him on @simphiweradebe__ and enjoy free lessons on YouTube and TikTok: Simphiwe Radebe (live every night at 20:00).
