We are only a few days away from Youth Month kicking off in earnest in South Africa, and as such, a number of government-led initiatives aimed at local youth will be getting underway.
In the case of the Gauteng Department of e-Government, it will be launching its province-wide Youth Tech Expo G13 Hackathon Series 2026 next month.
The hackathon is described as being “aimed at accelerating youth innovation and developing practical digital solutions to address Gauteng’s priority service delivery challenges.”
“This initiative brings together young innovators, technology stakeholders, government institutions and industry partners to collaborate on solutions that improve service delivery and address real community challenges,” the department added in an official statement.
Unpacking the plan for the Hackathon Series, the department explained that individual events are slated for five municipalities in the province – West Rand, Sedibeng, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane.
It will culminate in a Provincial Finale and Awards Ceremony to be hosted at the Microsoft South Africa offices in Bryanston, Johannesburg, with the Provincial Finale Hackathon taking place on 29th and 30th June.
“The first Hackathon in the series will take place in the West Rand region as an overnight innovation challenge where participants will conceptualize, design and develop technology-driven solutions,” the department noted.
“We believe that the youth of Gauteng possess the creativity, talent and technological capability to develop solutions that can transform communities and improve government service delivery. Through the Youth Tech Expo G13 Hackathon Series, we are creating a platform for young innovators to showcase their skills, collaborate with industry leaders and contribute meaningfully to the digital future of our province,” added MEC for e-Government, Bonginkosi Dhlamini.
More information for the Hackathon Series will be revealed on 4th and 5th June, when the aforementioned West Rand event takes place at Chief Mogale Centenary Hall in Krugersdorp.
For more information on the Hackathon Series, the department advises those interested to contact Sithembiso Ndlovu via email – sithembiso[dot]ndlovu[at]gauteng[dot]gov[dot]za.
[Image – Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash]
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Robin-Leigh Chetty
htxt.co.za
