Youth Month 2025: Innovation
#39 Celebrating the South African Youth.
Building the Future
Welcome to the June 2025 special edition of BeKarnya and Co., where we celebrate Youth Month by honoring the fearless spirit of South Africa’s youth. Inspired by the 1976 Soweto and Sharpeville uprisings, today’s young innovators are forging a path toward a brighter future through groundbreaking advancements in technology, entrepreneurship, and STEM. Their work tackles persistent challenges like water scarcity, unemployment, and environmental sustainability, proving that they are not just visionaries but proven winners. In this feature, we spotlight their transformative achievements, share their inspiring stories, and call on all South Africans to uplift these change-makers during Youth Month and beyond.
A Legacy of Courage Fueling Innovation
The 1976 Soweto Uprising, where students protested against apartheid’s discriminatory education policies, and the Sharpeville resistance against oppressive pass laws showcased the power of youth to challenge injustice. These historic acts of bravery continue to inspire today’s generation, who wield modern tools, coding, AI, and entrepreneurial ingenuity to dismantle systemic barriers. From rural villages to urban centers, young South Africans are redefining progress, turning the dreams of 1976 into tangible solutions for 2025.
Shining Stars of Youth Innovation
Tech Startups Transforming Lives
South Africa’s youth are building a vibrant ecosystem of tech startups that address local needs, create jobs, and empower communities. Here are some standout examples:
DryBath by Ludwick Marishane
Conceived in Limpopo by a 22 year old innovator, DryBath is a waterless bathing gel that revolutionizes hygiene in water-scarce regions. This ingenious solution enables clean, sustainable personal care without relying on limited water resources.Impact: Since its debut in 2012, DryBath has reached over 1 million users by 2024, particularly in rural clinics and schools across South Africa. The startup secured $500,000 in funding by 2023, fueling expansion into Namibia and Botswana.
Significance: Ludwick’s invention, which earned him a spot on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2014, exemplifies how youth-led innovation can address critical community needs.
Khula! App: Empowering Rural Farmers
Founded by Karidas Tshintsholo and Matthew Piper, Khula! is a mobile platform that connects small-scale farmers to urban markets, offering tools for crop management and direct sales.Impact: By 2025, Khula! has empowered over 10,000 farmers, boosting their incomes by an average of 30%. In provinces like Mpumalanga, it has dismantled exploitative supply chains, enabling farmers to thrive independently. The app secured R20 million in funding, with plans to integrate AI-driven yield forecasting.
Significance: Khula! is a lifeline for rural youth, fostering economic independence and food security.
HealthConnect by Thuli Ndlovu
Launched in 2021, HealthConnect is a telemedicine app that bridges healthcare gaps for rural communities by connecting patients to doctors via mobile devices.Impact: By 2024, it facilitated 50,000 consultations, saving rural residents costly trips to urban health centers. Partnerships with the Department of Health have made services free in areas like the Eastern Cape.
Recognition: Thuli, now 26, received the 2024 African Innovation Award, highlighting her role in making healthcare equitable.
STEM Pioneers Driving Global Impact
Young South Africans are excelling in STEM, creating solutions for clean energy, water access, and education that resonate locally and internationally.
Siyabulela Mokoena’s Solar-Powered Water Purifier
At just 17, Siyabulela, a Soweto student, developed a solar-powered purifier that cleans 1,000 liters of water daily, addressing South Africa’s critical need for safe drinking water.Impact: Piloted in 10 schools, the purifier serves 5,000 students, reducing waterborne illnesses. Its low cost design has attracted interest from NGOs for nationwide rollout.
Significance: Siyabulela’s innovation, showcased at the 2024 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, underscores the power of youth to solve infrastructure challenges.
SunCycle by Aisha Pandor
Led by 21 year old Aisha Pandor, SunCycle produces affordable solar panels using recycled materials, cutting costs by 40% compared to traditional models.Impact: By 2025, SunCycle has powered 2,500 rural households with 1,000 installed panels, reducing reliance on fossil fuels in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. The startup secured R15 million in green tech funding.
Recognition: Aisha’s presentation at the 2024 World Economic Forum’s Youth Summit elevated South Africa’s profile in sustainable energy innovation.
Code4Change by Naledi Molefe
Founded by 24 year old Naledi, Code4Change teaches coding to township youth, equipping them with skills for the digital economy.Impact: Since 2021, it has trained 8,000 students in Gauteng and the Western Cape, with 25% securing tech jobs or freelance work by 2024. Partnerships with Google provide resources like laptops and the internet.
Community Impact: In Khayelitsha, Code4Change hubs have lowered school dropout rates by 15%, creating safe spaces for learning.
Entrepreneurship: Fostering Economic Empowerment
South Africa’s youth are not waiting for opportunities, they’re creating them through entrepreneurial ecosystems that uplift their peers.
Innovate SA by Bongani Ngwenya
Led by 27 year old Bongani, Innovate SA has established 10 tech hubs in townships like Alexandra and Soweto since 2020, offering coding bootcamps, startup mentorship, and free Wi-Fi.Impact: The hubs have trained 15,000 youth, with 3,000 launching startups by 2025, including local e-commerce and delivery platforms. They’ve created 1,500 jobs in tech support roles.
Community Impact: Soweto’s “Startup Sundays” have connected 500 entrepreneurs with investors, securing R5 million in micro-funding.
Youth AgriHub by Lerato Mokoena
Founded in 2022 by 25 year old Lerato, Youth AgriHub trains young farmers in modern techniques like hydroponics, enabling them to supply major retailers.Impact: Operating in five provinces, it has trained 2,000 farmers, 70% under 30, generating R10 million in revenue by 2024.
Recognition: Lerato’s inclusion in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list in 2024 highlights her role in transforming agribusiness.
BackaBuddy’s Youth Campaigns by Sipho Dlamini
Led by 22 year old Sipho, BackaBuddy’s youth-focused crowdfunding has raised R8 million for startups since 2023, supporting projects like mobile libraries and eco-friendly packaging.Impact: These initiatives have created 200 jobs and provided solar lamps to 1,000 rural households. The #YouthInnovate campaign on X reached 1 million impressions in 2024.
Community Impact: Rural communities in the Free State now benefit from youth-led solutions like affordable lighting.
A Call to Action: Champion the Future
The ingenuity and determination of South Africa’s youth echo the courage of 1976, transforming challenges into opportunities. From DryBath to SunCycle, their innovations are not just solutions but beacons of hope. To sustain their momentum, we must act: attend an expo, mentor a young entrepreneur, or fund a startup. These steps can amplify their impact and build a more equitable South Africa.
As we celebrate Youth Month 2025, let’s rally behind these young trailblazers. Share their stories, volunteer your expertise, or invest in their vision. The youth of 1976 ignited change; the youth of 2025 are building it. Together, we can ensure their legacy shines.
The future is young, and it’s thriving.
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