Durban University of Technology (DUT) is taking digital learning to the next level. On 22 January 2026, the university, in partnership with HONOR South Africa and the Africa Inspired Foundation, supported the launch of a second Cybersecurity Lab at Umdlamfe Secondary School in Esikhawini, near Richards Bay. The launch was attended by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Honourable Njabulo Nzuza, who proudly endorsed the initiative. The lab, accompanied by a donation of R300,000 worth of HONOR laptops, will equip learners in townships with essential coding and AI skills, bridging the digital divide and preparing them for a technology-driven future.
The launch follows the successful first lab in Lamontville township in 2025, which also benefited from a R300,000 donation of devices from HONOR SA. These initiatives demonstrate DUT’s commitment to extending advanced digital infrastructure and learning opportunities to underserved communities.
Professor Oludayo Olugbara, Executive Dean of DUT’s Faculty of Accounting and Informatics (FAI), spearheaded the initiative. Under his guidance, Mrs Ugeshni Moodley and Mr Fanie Ndlovu mobilised key partners, leading to productive collaborations with HONOR South Africa and the Africa Inspired Foundation.
At the heart of this initiative is DUT’s Engineering Practice Innovation Project (EPIP), an innovative teaching model that combines hands-on engineering practice with theoretical knowledge. EPIP develops creativity and practical skills, producing graduates who are entrepreneurial, highly employable, and ready to innovate.
FAI has invested in state-of-the-art laboratories where students regularly participate in internal innovation competitions and national and international challenges, including hackathons. Their efforts have been recognised with silver and bronze medals at the BRICS Skills and Innovation competitions in China.
Through the township lab, learners will gain practical coding and AI skills using EPIP methodologies. An upcoming AI competition, hosted in partnership with HONOR South Africa and the Africa Inspired Foundation, will provide mentorship from DUT students, creating a pipeline for skills transfer, role-modelling, and community upliftment.
“These initiatives demonstrate the power of collaboration between government, industry, universities, and civil society. By investing in South Africa’s youth, we are building pathways to innovation, employability, and societal transformation,” said Mr Fanie Ndlovu.
Pictured: Mr Fanie Ndlovu among distinguished guests at the launch.
Faculty of Accounting and Informatics
