At the National Awards Ceremony held on 02 October 2026 at the Irene Country Hotel in Centurion (Gauteng), three outstanding public schools were crowned champions – taking home major prizes to boost STEM learning in their classrooms. The prestigious event that was celebrated as a highly successful Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between Samsung and the DBE, was graced by key dignitaries including the President and CEO of Samsung Africa, Simon Lee as well as the Minister of Basic Education, the honourable Siviwe Gwarube.

Following their prototype presentations to a panel of expert judges and rigorous evaluation, these were the winning schools:

• First Prize (R100,000): Cape Recife High School from the Eastern Cape was awarded for their exceptional prototype that turns plastic waste into sports equipment.

• Second Place (R50,000): Mbilwi Secondary School from Limpopo was awarded for their innovative prototype project focusing on transforming pollution and waste into low-cost construction materials aimed at reducing overcrowding and supporting sustainable community development.

• Third Place (R30,000): Sekete IV Secondary School from North West was awarded for their brilliant prototype that addresses severe waste management crisis in their school and the surrounding Kanana Village. The team engineered the “Mighty Sekete Smart Bin,” a tech-driven solution designed to break the cycle of waste mismanagement. The solar-powered bin features an internal compaction system that allows it to hold five times more waste than a standard bin, preventing overflow.

In addition to the cash prizes, which will go entirely toward purchasing vital STEM equipment for their respective schools, each individual learner from the three winning teams walked away with a brand-new Samsung Galaxy smartphone to help them continue their tech-for-good journeys.

Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Samsung Africa CEO, Simon Lee, congratulated the winners and the Top 20 finalists. He highlighted how Samsung as the catalyst for youth empowerment – remains deeply committed to driving education and technology-driven initiatives.

Lee believes that the partnership with the DBE allows Samsung the opportunity to address environmental and societal challenges, while nurturing the next generation of innovators. He also expressed how convinced he is that the future of Africa lies in the hands of its young innovators. And furthermore, Lee added that – as a socially responsible company; Samsung is proud to support equipping the country’s young innovators with the skills and confidence to build a sustainable digital future.

Lee highlighted how the growth of the competition as reflected in the number of applications, shows that young South Africans have an appetite for learning and just need opportunities. He also emphasised that Samsung sees investing in human potential, especially young people, through initiatives such as Solve for Tomorrow and the Samsung Innovation Campus, as not just an important part of its work, but something that gives its existence even more meaning.

The Solve for Tomorrow initiative directly supports South Africa’s National Development Plan (Vision 2030) by teaching public school learners skills needed for the future. The programme champions local, sustainable problem-solving in perfect alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs); specifically Goal 4 (Quality Education)¹. By bringing practical STEM learning and expert mentorship directly to public schools, this unique initiative also actively encourages young women to participate in STEM-related fields.

Minister Gwarube expressed her optimism about what the future holds for South Africa if opportunities are continuously created that not only strengthen education but also access to it. She also highlighted that while there are challenges, working together as government, corporates and communities is the best approach. “Education must help young people prepare for the future that they want for themselves, and that we want as a country. We cannot perpetuate the inequality that currently exists. The best education systems in the world focus on building strong foundations, and it is through initiatives such as Solve for Tomorrow that we can also build that solid foundation. We cannot solve some of the challenges alone and can only do so through partnerships like this one. Thank you to Samsung for the work that you do – it is inspiring. Thank you for investing in South Africa and the future of our young people.”

This year’s competition challenged learners to develop real-world solutions under two crucial themes: Environmental Sustainability through Technology & Social Inclusion through Sports & Technology. Behind every prototype was an intense journey of teamwork, critical thinking and design thinking.

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Representing the first-prize winning team, Kukhanya Mbebe, a Grade 10 learner from Cape Recife High School, shared their excitement: “We still can’t believe we won! When we started, we just wanted to fix a problem we saw in our community. Working on this project has taught us how to think like inventors and use technology to make a difference. For us, as a special needs school, to be here and announced as 2026 winners of the competition is a huge honour, and we hope our solution will go a long way towards making South Africa a better place.”

For their project, the team identified the problem of plastic pollution as a growing global crisis, with millions of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles discarded daily, overwhelming landfills and polluting ecosystems. They also noticed that many underserved communities lack access to affordable sports equipment, limiting youth participation in sport, and taking them away from social ills such as crime and drugs. As a solution, the team built an electronic device that converts recycled PET plastic bottles into 3D printer filament. They use this filament to 3D-print functional sports equipment for local sport teams.

Working alongside Samsung employee volunteers as their mentors; the learners designed physical, working prototypes using seed funding provided by the initiative. Samsung also provided tablets with data connectivity to support their work. This practical, hands-on approach has now demystified science and technology – proving to ordinary South Africans that STEM is a practical tool that anyone can use to improve daily life.

“The fact that we had Samsung mentors guiding us throughout this journey has helped us believe in our ideas and, this experience has also changed how we see our future. This competition has shown us that public school learners also have what it takes to build the future of South Africa and, we are very excited to take this STEM equipment back to our school,” added Mbebe.

The 2026 competition also saw a massive national growth, drawing an incredible 143 project submissions from public schools across the country – a massive leap from just 47 entries last year. This success is actively boosted by the DBE’s MST (Mathematics, Science and Technology) education initiative which drives advocacy for learners to participate by providing targeted resources, training teachers and monitoring implementation through the DBE MST Conditional Grant.

Lefa Makgato, corporate social responsibility (CSR) Manager for Samsung South Africa concluded: “Congratulations to all our participants. As Samsung, we strongly believe that education is the foundation that allows youth to realise their full potential. Through our strong collaborative partnership with the DBE, we are proud to continue empowering young minds and inspiring positive change across South Africa.”

1. Source: Goal 4: Quality education | United Nations Development Programme ︎

In attendance was Mr. Simon Lee, the President and CEO of Samsung Africa with his management team and some of the country’s dignitaries and strategic partners that included Ms Elspeth Khembo, Director for Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST), Curriculum Innovation and E-Learning at the National Department of Basic Education (DBE); as well as Mr. Tlali Tlali, the Director of Corporate Affairs at State Information Technology Agency (SITA).

Pictured: Samsung, Department of Basic Education and State Information Technology Agency representatives

This announcement marks the end of the initial application phase which ran until 06 March 2026 and Samsung along with its partners were recognising the outstanding contributions that these Top 20 schools have made to the programme; showcasing their achievements and potential impact. This year’s participation has reached new heights, with over 143 submissions from public schools across the country – a remarkable growth from 47 entries last year. This is testament to the unwavering dedication of the country’s educators and learners as well as Samsung’s valued partners: DBE and SITA.

The notable increase in participation can also be credited to the major shift in the application process in this year’s SFT competition, which has now been opened to all public schools, including quintile 5 – making it more inclusive and nationally representative. Now, the competition has reached a stage where it moves beyond theoretical knowledge. It is shifting from mere idea submissions going towards an active, mentored development of the solutions stage that is designed to create a positive social impact in local communities.

This year’s global themes: Social Inclusion through Sports & Technology and Environmental Sustainability via Technology, reflect our shared responsibility to build an equitable, sustainable and inclusive future. These themes which seek to foster innovation among high school learners from underprivileged backgrounds throughout South Africa – are encouraging critical thinking and problem solving for Gen Z to build sustainable solutions through STEM.

Mr. Simon Lee, the President and CEO of Samsung Africa

Speaking at the event, the President and CEO of Samsung Africa, Mr. Lee shared his sentiments on the collaborative agreement between Samsung and DBE which has in the last few years – highlighted the direct alignment of the SFT’s objectives to the country’s national education priorities. He added that the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Samsung and DBE has been instrumental in driving this success, anchoring the company’s partnership in strengthening STEM education and equipping learners with critical skills for the digital economy.

Elspeth Khembo, Director for Mathematics, Science & Technology (MST), Curriculum Innovation & E-Learning at the National Department of Basic Education.

And, according to the Director for Mathematics, Science & Technology (MST), Curriculum Innovation & E-Learningat the National Department of Basic Education, Ms. Elspeth Khembo: “By teaching learners to use digital tools, data and technology to develop innovative solutions, this Samsung SFT competition advances the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen STEM education, expand digital learning opportunities and cultivate future-ready skills among the country’s learners.

Ms. Khembo explained further and said: “All of this is in direct alignment with our national education priorities including fostering 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) skills, critical thinking and equitable access to opportunities in an effort to build a capable, innovation-driven and inclusive economy,”

For these Grade 10 and 11 learners from selected public schools – making it to this stage of the competition is a significant milestone. Advancing to this next phase means that these Top 20 school learners will – through project-based learning – be equipped with the 4Cs which are Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Communication. These skills are essential for solving real-world challenges.

Tlali Tlali, Director at SITA – Corporate Affairs

The Director at SITA – Corporate Affairs Mr. Tlali Tlali also added: “We’re honoured to be part of this amazing initiative and even prouder of the fact that we’ve been partners with Samsung from inception. It gives us great joy to see the enthusiasm that’s evident in the significant increase in the number of schools from the country’s previously disadvantaged communities, that participate in this unique, global initiative. Our goal of aligning with Samsung’s transformation goals and building a digital South Africa by improving educational and career prospects for our youth, remains intact.”

With the support of mentors, design thinking workshops, prototype funding and tablets for research and project execution, the learners will have the resources to turn their visions into reality. This is complemented by the invaluable contributions from the judges and partners whose expertise and guidance is instrumental in nurturing this year’s young innovators.

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung South Africa

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in South Africa said: “We would like to congratulate the Top 20 schools that made it to the next stage of this competition. As Samsung, we are very happy with the quality of the entries that we received from various schools around the country and are appreciative of the interest and overwhelming participation in this year’s competition. We are also grateful to our partners: DBE and SITA, whose strategic priorities align perfectly with our mission to empower students with skills that transcend the classroom and are able to prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow.”

And when taking a closer look at the themes for this year – the social change through sports and tech theme focuses on how the power of sport as a unifying force in South Africa is recognised. And, when combined with technology – sport becomes a tool for inclusion, youth development, health and community building. This first theme encourages young innovators to use digital platforms, data and smart solutions to improve access to sports, develop talent, promote wellness and create safer, more connected communities. It’s about using technology to amplify the positive social impact of sport beyond the field.

The second theme which focuses on Environmental sustainability through technology addresses the urgent environmental challenges that the country faces, such as climate change, water scarcity, waste management and energy access. This environmentally focused theme invites young people to develop tech-driven solutions that protect natural resources, promote renewable energy and support sustainable living. It signifies a shift toward responsible innovation using technology not just for convenience, but to secure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.

And furthermore, this year’s announcement places these Top 20 schools in the running to win substantial prizes, including up to R100,000 in STEM equipment for the winning school – with 2nd and 3rd place winning R50,000 and R30,000 respectively: plus Samsung devices for the top learners in the winning schools.

Makgato concluded: “As a pioneer in education and innovation, this SFT programme provides us with an opportunity to reinforce our dedication to nurturing the country’s future problem-solvers. Samsung is resolute in its mission when it comes to its education goals: we remain committed to continue empowering South Africa’s learners to address global challenges through technology and innovation.”

Top 20 Schools for the 2026 Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition

This is a transformative experience for learners’ personal development and career aspirations – empowering them with critical skills to innovate and solve real-world problems. Launched for the first time in 2023 in South Africa, this SFT competition encourages innovative thinking and problem solving for Gen Z to build sustainable solutions through STEM. This year marks a major shift, the programme is now open to all public schools, including quintile 5 – making it more inclusive and nationally representative.

The SFT competition aims to reduce skills gaps, encourage youth led innovation and show young South Africans that their ideas have value and real-world impact. This global initiative envisions a South Africa where young people are not just job seekers, but solution creators who contribute meaningfully to inclusive growth and sustainable development.

This year’s competition that’s themed: “Social Change through Sports and Technology” and “Environmental Sustainability via Technology” – seeks to foster innovation among high school learners from underprivileged backgrounds throughout South Africa. With the social change through sports and tech theme – here the power of sport as a unifying force in South Africa is recognised. When combined with technology – sport becomes a tool for inclusion, youth development, health and community building.

This theme encourages young innovators to use digital platforms, data and smart solutions to improve access to sports, develop talent, promote wellness and create safer, more connected communities. It’s about using technology to amplify the positive social impact of sport beyond the field.

The Environmental sustainability through technology theme on the other hand addresses the urgent environmental challenges South Africa faces, such as climate change, water scarcity, waste management and energy access. This theme invites young people to develop tech-driven solutions that protect natural resources, promote renewable energy and support sustainable living. It signifies a shift toward responsible innovation using technology not just for convenience, but to secure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in South Africa said: “As Samsung, we are inviting more South African public schools to enter this competition so that their learners can have the exposure and networking opportunities that will help them connect with industry leaders and our Samsung mentors – aiding their transition to tertiary studies. By engaging in this year’s incredible themes; as well as fostering innovation and providing critical skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), public school learners who enter the 2026 SFT competition have an opportunity for their lives to be significantly impacted and transformed in more positive ways.”

Public schools in the country are encouraged to apply for the 2026 SFT competition and join this year’s challenge that will give them an opportunity to showcase their creativity. Schools can now be part of a movement that empowers the next generation to shape a brighter future. In addition, school learners and educators will now be empowered with technological aspects that will help them to solve their communities’ problems using STEM skills. With this SFT competition, this is an opportunity for those that are ready to turn their ideas into action.

This year’s participants can look forward to being tasked with addressing pressing community problems using STEM principles, thus improving their analytical abilities and gaining professional guidance from Samsung employees. Importantly, school teams that enter this year’s competition stand a chance to win exciting prizes and the recognition as South Africa’s next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. The 1st prize is R100K worth of STEM equipment for their school, with 2nd and 3rd prizes winning R50K and R30K respectively. And that’s not all, the prizes also include Samsung devices for the learners on the top three teams – to help them develop their STEM-based, tech-for-good projects even further.

Makgato explained further: “Even though there’s ultimately three winners of the competition; the previous participating learners have also learnt something fundamental – that this SFT competition is less about winning and more about the journey of learning and personal growth. We are happy to see that some of the former participants and winners of this SFT competition have transitioned into tertiary education, often pursuing degrees that align with the STEM skills they developed during the programme.”

According to Samsung, this SFT competition aligns very closely with the national education in particular the Department of Basic Education’s priorities and transformation goals of South Africa, especially those that focus on improving STEM learning, critical thinking and equitable access to opportunities. First, at the heart of South Africa’s education policy is the goal of strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics education because these subjects are essential for the current jobs market. The SFT competition does exactly that: it gives learners practical, hands-on STEM experience. This directly supports the national education priority of building stronger STEM capacity in schools.

Acting Director for Communications and Research at the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Terence Khala added: “The Department of Basic Education welcomes the continued expansion of the Samsung SFT programme as a strategic STEM enrichment platform that advances curriculum relevance, innovation capability and equitable access to opportunity within the public schooling system. Experiential competitions of this nature strengthen critical problem-solving, design thinking and applied learning competencies essential for participation in South Africa’s digital, green and knowledge-based economies.”

‘’The inclusion of all public schools reflects a shared commitment to broadening high-quality STEM exposure and nurturing a diverse pipeline of future innovators,” Khala concluded.

Additional Information on the Qualifying Criteria for Entering 2026 SFT Competition

In order to enter the Competition, a Team shall be required to comply with the following entry criteria:

• The Candidates of each Team must be South African citizens
• Prior written consent must be obtained by the applicable Public School from each Candidate’s parent and/or legal guardian for written permission that the Candidate may enter and participate in the competition
• The Candidate must be enrolled as a learner at the applicable Public School, as at the date of the commencement of the Competition and for its duration thereof
• Each Team may comprise of a maximum of 5 (five) learners from Grade 10 to Grade 11
• The Public School entering a Team into the Competition may only enter one Team.

How to Apply:

Application forms are accessible online. Visit our website https://www.samsung.com/za/solvefortomorrow/ to register your school and submit your team’s proposal. Do not miss out on an opportunity to empower your learners to gain critical thinking skills, collaborate and shape the future of our country. Together, we can inspire change – one idea at a time. Join and be part of the movement that seeks to empower school learners to innovate and change their communities’ problems using STEM.

For more information, visit https://www.samsung.com/za/solvefortomorrow/ or contact us at ssasft@samsung.com

After months of dedication, creativity and innovation, Gauteng-based Tembisa West Secondary School was named the overall winner. Their ground-breaking energy efficiency AI system earned them first place for its potential to drive meaningful change in their school. The achievement earned the learners R100,000 prize money which will go towards purchasing STEM equipment for their school.

Umlazi Comprehensive Technical High School (KwaZulu-Natal) and Koffiefontein Combined School (Free State) took second and third place respectively for their forward-thinking ideas and practical applications of STEM to their community’s challenges. The second and third runners-up received R50,000 and R30,000 respectively to go towards purchasing STEM equipment for their schools. Each of the learners in the top three teams also received a Samsung Galaxy smartphone as part of the prizes.

The announcement followed an intense final round on 7 October 2025, where the top ten finalist schools showcased their prototypes before a panel of expert judges. Each team presented innovative solutions designed to address pressing issues in their communities. Under any of these three themes; Energy Efficient Schools, Innovative Transport Solutions or Affordable Safety Devices, the learners had to demonstrate sustainability and the transformative power of STEM when fuelled by purpose and collaboration.

The winning school chose the Energy Efficient Schools theme and came up with a smart energy solution AI system dubbed Green Jarvis. Their solution produces energy by using electromagnetic harvesting), and also monitors and reduce its usage. Green Jarvis has sensors which monitor energy usage at their school, adjusting where necessary to optimise efficiency. Housed in a dedicated server, Green Jarvis can monitor any system or tool that uses electricity, from lights to air-cons and heaters. For instance, when a room is being heated, as soon as it reaches the required temperature, the system will kick in and switch the heater off. The smart system, that has an interactive application as well as real-time metrics tracker for reporting, can also reduce the brightness of lights when needed.

“In doing our research and trying to find what we can do, we realised that a lot of energy was being used in our school and that there was room for us to be more efficient. That’s when we came up with the idea to build this system, that could be a game-changer even for other schools, especially those in underdeveloped areas where financial resources are in short supply. I’m so happy to be part of the team and very proud of our achievement,” said Ntumiseng Mafemo, team member and Grade 11 learner from Tembisa West Secondary.

“We are delighted to announce the winner of Solve for Tomorrow in South Africa, a remarkable example of how young innovators can drive meaningful change. This initiative aligns perfectly with our goals of enhancing STEM education in underserved public schools, fostering a culture of innovation, and equipping learners with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. By empowering these bright minds, we are not only addressing immediate challenges but also investing in a sustainable future for all. We are proud to support these inspiring individuals as they transform their innovative ideas into impactful solutions.”,” said Lefa Makgato, CSR Manager at Samsung South Africa.

Echoing this statement, Dr. Neo Mothobi, Chief Education Specialist in the Ministry at the Department of Basic Education, said the competition is a reminder of the potential that the youth of South Africa has in the fields of STEM. “The competition inspires young people to drive innovation through creativity and collaboration. It is remarkable that it inspires the youth to find solutions to real challenges in their communities. This initiative reflects what’s possible when industry and education work hand in hand and together, it shows that we can build the South Africa we all want. These learners have not only embraced STEM, they’ve shown that with the right guidance, South Africa’s youth can lead the way toward a smarter, more inclusive future.”

“Public-private partnerships, such as the one we have with Samsung, remain a major catalyst for development. They are particularly key to unlocking uniquely South African solutions to local challenges, and this competition helps push that very notion of localisation as it gives our youth an opportunity to find solutions for our issues. Information and communication technology is one of the sectors that we can use to ensure that young people are not left behind. We really need to focus our attention on investing in young people, who can be at the forefront of helping our country to grow and move forward,” said Tlali Tlali, Head of Corporate Affairs at SITA.

Now in its third year in South Africa, Solve for Tomorrow is part of Samsung’s global education initiative designed to equip young people with critical STEM skills and a mind-set for innovation. The competition has given learners the tools, mentorship and confidence to tackle local issues with global potential. SFT is a reflection of Samsung’s continued commitment to investing in youth empowerment and community-driven innovation.

As the winners celebrate their success, their journeys mark just the beginning of what promises to be a legacy of ideas that inspire progress, ignite change and shape a better tomorrow for all.