Wits Postgraduate Students Receive International Recognition for Innovation

Postgraduate students from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) achieved notable success at the African Engineering and Technology (AFRETEC) Makerthon, earning both a top prize and entry into a prestigious tech incubator.

The Makerthon, hosted at the University of Nairobi’s Chiromo Campus and led by Carnegie Mellon University – Africa, brings together some of Africa’s brightest minds to develop innovative solutions under the network’s Entrepreneurship pillar.

Representing Wits were Zanele Dira (Wits Business School), Cuan Pienaar (School of Law), and Nish Parus (School of Electrical and Information Engineering). Working in interdisciplinary teams, they tackled real-world challenges through engineering and entrepreneurial solutions. One of the teams featuring Wits students secured the overall bronze prize, highlighting their creativity, collaboration, and technical skill.

Beyond the awards, both teams with Wits postgraduate students received an exclusive invitation to join Carnegie Mellon University Africa’s Innovation Hub Tech-incubator. The program provides financial support and specialist consulting services to help translate their innovative ideas into impactful ventures. The winning projects focused on addressing critical societal challenges: combating stigma around women’s health issues and ensuring inclusive digital participation in Africa’s rapidly growing mobile economy.

This achievement underscores Wits’ commitment to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful solutions that address pressing African challenges.