Johannesburg-based team Gridwise 10X has been crowned the overall winner of the 2026 Youth Tech Expo (YTE) G13 Hackathon after impressing judges with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution designed to improve urban mobility and smarter transport planning in Gauteng.
The announcement follows the provincial finals held at Microsoft’s Johannesburg offices, where the top five teams from regional competitions battled for the championship after weeks of innovation and mentorship.
The Gauteng Department of e-Government, in partnership with Microsoft South Africa and Algo@Work, challenged learners to use AI and digital technologies to develop practical solutions to some of the province’s biggest challenges, including crime, service delivery, water management, infrastructure maintenance and transport.
Innovative ideas from the finalists
The competition showcased a range of technology-driven ideas aimed at improving the lives of Gauteng residents:
- Gridwise 10X (Johannesburg) – 1st Place (84.2%): Developed an AI-powered smart mobility solution to improve traffic flow, transport planning and urban mobility across the province.
- Chromomark (Tshwane) – 2nd Place (81.6%): Presented an innovative digital solution using AI to enhance public service delivery and address community challenges through smarter data-driven decision-making.
- Civic Eye (Sedibeng) – 3rd Place (70.2%): Designed a civic technology platform aimed at strengthening public safety and helping communities report service delivery and infrastructure problems more effectively.
- SIRRS (West Rand) – 4th Place (63.0%): Created an intelligent system focused on infrastructure monitoring and maintenance to help identify faults before they become major problems.
- Aqua Guard AI (Ekurhuleni) – 5th Place (59.0%): Developed an AI-based water management solution to detect leaks, improve water conservation and strengthen water security.
As champions, all members of Gridwise 10X will receive Netcampus gift vouchers and a fully funded 12-month Master Tech Leadership Programme, including a monthly stipend.
The remaining 40 finalists will participate in a specialised Data and Artificial Intelligence skills programme, ensuring that every participant benefits from the competition.
Gauteng MEC for e-Government Bonginkosi Dhlamini congratulated all the finalists, saying the hackathon demonstrated the creativity and innovation of Gauteng’s youth and reaffirmed government’s commitment to developing future digital leaders.
Collectively, prizes awarded to the 50 finalists are valued at more than R1 million.
