The metro will adopt the top five mobile application solutions created by “hackers” to its ICT strategy.
This will ensure the metro’s apps are improved and provide increased citizen engagement and efficiency when it comes to service delivery.
Speaking at the 48-hour hackathon challenge held last weekend at the Alberton council chambers, Ekurhuleni’s divisional head for ICT, Lydia Ntlhophi, encouraged “hackers” to utilise such platforms as they will open entrepreneurial opportunities for young people.
“As a digitally connected city, the City of Ekurhuleni will ensure that this hackathon challenge doesn’t go to waste as the top five solutions will be improved to provide real life solutions for Ekurhuleni residents.
“With the world rapidly switching to a digital era opportunities are out there for young people.
“It is only upon them to utilise such platforms to create solutions that can make a difference,” said Ntlhophi.
Father and daughter team, Naledi and Pule Phafane, scooped the first prize walking away with R100 000 for their Vula Robot invention.
The app from the Open Robot team eases traffic congestion by controlling how long traffic lights remain open through mobile devices.
In second place was Dul Track who received R50 000 for developing a solution consisting of hardware and software to help reduce accident rates on the roads.
Third place went to Blue Mars who received R20 000 for their housing and human settlement application to monitor housing allocation and minimise corruption.
Creators of the top five most innovative prototypes with market potential and socio-economic impact solutions will not only advance the municipality’s ICT strategy, they will also be linked to the metro’s Ekurhuleni BizSpark Incubation Centre where they will receive software and business development training and support on how to improve their ideas into commercially viable products.
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