THOHOYANDOU – The Department of Accountancy, under the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law at the University of Venda (UNIVEN), hosted a prize handover ceremony on 27 March 2026 to honour the top-performing teams from the CyberSecureTech Hackathon 2025. The hackathon has emerged as a flagship initiative aimed at strengthening students’ cybersecurity skills, promoting digital innovation, and nurturing entrepreneurial thinking among young tech talent.
1st Place winners (R20,000) — Mzanzi Shield: (middle L-R) Ms Sandra Mukhumo and Mr Phooko Mokgomme pose for a photo with Dr Wilard Munyoka (far left) and Prof Vusani Moyo (far right)
The CyberSecureTech initiative was conceptualised in response to the increasing demand for graduates equipped with future-ready digital competencies, especially in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data governance. Its foundation is rooted in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2020 between UNIVEN and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Representing the Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, Dr Willard Munyoka (HoD: Business Information Systems) reminded attendees that the MoU, signed by the Vice-Chancellor, underscored the importance of advancing cybersecurity awareness within the higher education sector.
He extended his appreciation to the organisers and sponsors, noting that the solutions produced through the hackathon have the potential to address real cyber challenges, be patented, commercialised, and monetised by the innovators.
Momentum for the hackathon strengthened in 2024 when former CSIR Chief Researcher, Dr Jackie Phahlamohlaka, delivered a public lecture at UNIVEN, sparking significant student interest. This engagement influenced the launch of the first CyberSecureTech Hackathon in August 2024 and laid a strong foundation for the initiative as a strategic response to rising digital threats.
Mr Maotome Mokoena (left) and Mr Mpho Tshiololi (right ) addressing the winners during the event
As reliance on digital systems grows globally, cyber risks such as data breaches and compro-mised information continue to intensify. The hackathon was therefore designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world cybersecurity practice by giving students the opportunity to develop practical, tech-driven solutions to current societal and industry chal-lenges.
The 2025 hackathon was hosted in partnership with industry leaders, including Adapt IT, CIS-CO, TakeNote IT, Geekulcha and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). The platform brought together multidisciplinary teams from various institutions, fostering collaboration, cre-ativity, and problem-solving under pressure. Their solutions demonstrated strong alignment with national priorities relating to digital trust, ethical innovation and inclusive technological development.
Winners pose for a group photo with Dr Willard Munyoka (far right), Mr Mpho Tshiololi (far left) and Prof Vusani Moyo (middle)
The prize-giving ceremony marked the culmination of months of dedication and innovation, with a total of R40,000 awarded to the top-performing teams. Mzanzi Shield, represented by Mr Phooko Mokgomme and Ms Sandra Mukhumo, secured first place and received R20,000. Second place went to Cyberblockers, comprising Mr Amokelane Bele and Mr Rabelani Mufa-madi, who were awarded R10,000. The third-place honours were shared, with Data Defense Solutions Mr Dakalo Netshamahala, Ms Mutshidzi Munyai, and Ms Vhugala Rambevha and Ze-rotrust Coders, represented by Ms Phuluso Aluvhavhi, each receiving R5,000.
During his address, Mr Mpho Tshiololi, representing the Head of the Department of Accoun-tancy, urged winners to use their prize money ethically and responsibly. He highlighted the im-portance of proper financial management, accountability and sound record-keeping. Students were encouraged to reinvest their winnings into advancing their innovations in line with the hackathon’s objectives.
Beyond recognising excellence, the event reinforced CyberSecureTech as a long-term developmental initiative rather than a once-off competition. It forms part of UNIVEN’s broader effort to produce a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals capable of making meaningful contri-butions to South Africa’s digital economy.
As the winning teams advance with mentorship and further support, the impact of the hack-athon is expected to extend far beyond the event itself. With the seed funding received, or-ganisers expressed hope that these innovative ideas will mature into scalable, commercially viable cybersecurity solutions, signalling a promising start for the next generation of digital innovators.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
