A total of 80 young women from Grades 9,10 and 11 are currently undergoing training on drone technology at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). They are part of a five-day RoboGirl 2025 programme which is being hosted by the Departments of Information Technology and Electronic and Computer Engineering at DUT in partnership with Lenovo Southern Africa and Toyota South Africa.
This exciting initiative aimed to empower young women in technology and innovation was officially launched at the Moses Kotane Research Institute offices in Durban on Monday, 01 December 2025.
At the launch, 80 young innovators from 16 high schools based in Durban and surrounding areas were in high spirits, excited to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. Each school is represented by five participants who will compete in the Drone Technology Competition on Saturday, 06 December 2025
Delivering the welcome remarks Ms Jane Govindsamy, Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Champion at Lenovo Southern Africa said the launch marked a proud moment for the next chapter of a programme that will be transforming the future of young women in technology.
“To our students, you are the heart of this programme. RoboGirl exists because we believe in your potential, your ideas, your talent, and your future. This platform is designed to expose you to robotics, coding, engineering, innovation while showing you that the world is wide open for you to explore. As we kick off RoboGirl 2025, we are excited to see your passion, your curiosity and incredible projects you will create. You are the next generation of problem solvers, leaders and innovators,” said Ms Govindsamy to the young women.
In his address, Mr Mubeen Suleman, Services Ops Support Manager at Lenovo Southern Africa said they believe at Lenovo technology should be an enabler for every learner, despite where they are from. He shared that their strategy focuses on bridging the digital divide, fostering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and creating platforms for creativity and critical thinking.
“RoboGirl began in 2022 with a simple yet powerful vision to close the gender gap in STEM and empower young women to become future leaders in technology. Over the past three years, this programme has grown from coding and robotics to AI applications, and now, in 2025, we enter our fourth chapter, Drone Technology. This week, students will learn to design, build, and programme drones, mastering skills in electronics, coding, and mechanical design. These sessions are not just about technology, but also about teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation,” shared Mr Suleman.
Mr Ebrahim Asmal, Head of Department in the Department of Information Technology at DUT said globally, women remain underrepresented in STEM fields. He indicated that this was not because of ability, but because of barriers-social, cultural, and economic.
“RoboGirl exists to break those barriers. We want every girl to know you belong in technology, you belong in innovation, and you belong in shaping the future,” said Mr Asmal.
In terms of what the programme offers, Asmal shared that students attended a three-day workshop where they were taught to design, build, and programme robots using industry-standard tools by Mr Imtiaz Haniff, a Senior Technician in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at DUT.
“The girls are connecting with inspiring women and tutors in tech who have walked the path and are ready to guide them as role models and mentors. On Thursday and Friday the girls will be given the opportunity to innovate and develop a working drone which will be judged on Saturday, 06 December 2025, by a panel of esteemed judges and assessed and the results will be announced at a glitzy gala dinner at Elangeni Hotel on 06 December 2025. For those who excel, doors will open to internships, bursaries, and future careers in technology,” he said.
In addition, Mr Asmal added that more than 50 educators will be attending an Artificial Intelligence (AI), coding and robotics workshop from 08 December 2025 to 10 December 2025 at DUT in partnership with Lenovo Southern Africa.
In his message of support, Professor Matthys Swanepoel, Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics at DUT shared his eagerness in witnessing the young women designing and operating their own drones after their training. He believes the RoboGirl programme solidifies DUT’s commitment to shaping the technology landscape of KwaZulu-Natal.
Sharing similar sentiments, Ms Zama Dlamini, Acting Executive Manager in Development Services at Moses Kotane Research Institute said by providing structured mentorship and hands-on experience, the initiative fosters research-driven learning, knowledge creation, and skills development among young female learners. She said that this collaborative programme reflects a shared commitment to promoting research, advancing knowledge dissemination, and supporting community-centred innovation.
In closing Ms Subashnie Soobramoney from the Department of Information Technology at DUT said that through this initiative, DUT was not only nurturing future engineers, programmers, and technologists; but also nurturing problem-solvers, leaders, and changemakers who will contribute meaningfully to society.
Pictured: The 80 young innovators from 16 schools at the RoboGirl Media Launch.
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Simangele Zuma
