Streetwise developers scoop R300 000 in GeoJozi Challenge

17 November 2016

 

Thapelo Lebo Sekwena, a junior software developer at global defence and security company SAAB, is the 2016 winner of the City of Johannesburg’s GeoJozi Developer Challenge.

 

Sekwena, who holds a BSc degree in computer science and mathematics from North West University, scooped the R150 000 first prize at a prize-giving ceremony at the Wits Club on Wednesday November 16.

The aim of the challenge – a partnership between the City of Johannesburg, Wits University-based Johannesburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE) and mapping software company Esri South Africa – is to uncover new and digital solutions that could help improve the City’s Geo Information Systems (GIS) data and enhance the allocation and maintenance of addresses across the 1 644km2 metropolis. Sekwena got the judges’ nod for his innovative entry, which helps source addresses and then validates them using a combination of “gamification, crowd sourcing and augmented reality”.

The second-place winner, who walked away with R100 000, was Methembe Dlamini, a computer science master’s student at the University of Johannesburg. The third position went to Absalom Mpanze, an analyst developer at Standard Bank, who won R50 000. Sekwena said he was just trying his luck when he entered the challenge. He said he would use part of the prize to buy a new laptop – the one he developed the app on crashed on demo day – register his company and invest in the necessary tools.
He said his app, called Run Jozi, Redeem Jozi, “simply asks users for addresses in exchange for rewards on places that need addressing or validation”. 
“The solution caters for everyone as it is user-friendly and fun,” he said.
Yondela Silimela, the City’s Executive Director of Development Planning, said the collaborative partnership between the City, JCSE and Esri SA that resulted in the GeoJozi Developer Challenge had not only nurtured creative and innovative energy but had also helped nurture the contestants.
“Unless and until we find ways of working across scales, across institutions, across disciplines, across genders, across races, across age divides, we are nowhere near cracking the challenges of the world. 
“However, if today is an example of what is coming, I am comfortable that going forward we have what it takes,” she said.
JCSE Director Prof Barry Dwolatzky commended all entrants and congratulated the winners.
“It’s been a real pleasure to work on this exciting project. Through the JSCE, Johannesburg has emerged as the emerging leader in the digital economy both in South Africa and Africa and the City has been instrumental in helping us achieve this,” he said. 
The prizes include a year’s membership to the Digital Innovation Zone at the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein, Johannesburg’s own Silicon Valley. 
The City’s Director for Corporate Geo-Informatics, Marcelle Hattingh, said the challenge highlighted the importance of street addresses and how they related to service delivery.
Esri SA Managing Director Patrick McKivergan said: “It has been a refreshing and inspiring experience to see the innovation these young developers have brought to the challenge.”