A wave of innovation swept through Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) eMalahleni Campus with the third annual Mpumalanga Artificial Intelligence Student Hackathon (MAISH).

Co-hosted by TUT’s Faculty of Information and Communication Technology and the University of Mpumalanga’s (UMP) School of Computing and Mathematics, the event on October 23 to 25 brought together aspiring tech minds to tackle real-world challenges through artificial intelligence.

The hackathon kicked off with Molemane Minckey delivering an energizing welcome on behalf of the campus rector, igniting a weekend of creativity, collaboration, and code.

Professor Ntombovuyo Wayi-Mgwebi of UMP emphasised the importance of inter-institutional partnerships and called for broader inclusion of TVET colleges to democratise access to digital skills.

Dr Michael Moeti, assistant dean of teaching and learning at TUT, urged participants to align their projects with the university’s integrated strategic plan, highlighting the role of student-led innovation in shaping the future of technology education.

Hope Mabitsela, SITA’s provincial manager, highlighted the agency’s commitment to nurturing future professionals, many of whom are alumni of the host institutions.

“The hackathon is more than a competition, it’s a pipeline for tomorrow’s tech leaders,” Mabitsela said.

Under the leadership of MAISH chief organiser Senyeki Marebane, 10 teams of 10 students each tackled pressing societal issues using AI.

The 2025 challenge themes included agriculture, tourism, waste management, pollution, and education. Industry mentors guided participants through the development process, fostering both technical growth and strategic thinking.

Team Agrisurfers emerged victorious with their AI-powered platform, AgriConnect. Designed to support farmers, the system integrates disease detection, livestock health monitoring, and rainfall prediction to optimize agricultural productivity.

“We started as strangers and ended as champions,” said Siyabonga Magagula, reflecting on the team’s journey. “Teamwork truly made the dream work,” he concluded.

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