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DUT IT Team Wins Hackathon at GovTech 2017

DUT IT Team Wins Hackathon at GovTech 2017

Creating a new breed of analytical and solution-orientated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) students, who are conscious of the socio-economic challenges, has given the Durban University of Technology (DUT) the platform to prove their technology skills. The DUT IT team claimed first prize at the Hackathon competition, which formed part of the GovTech 2017 conference, held at the Durban International Conference Centre, recently.
The conference is a call that placed a renewed emphasis on all stakeholders (public, private and civil society) to go back to basics and re-kindle the ethos of service delivery and its value for the society.

Forming part of the conference is the Hackathon@GovTech competition. The aim of the Hackathon is to create ICT students who are conscious of the socio-economic challenges and drive at utilising ICT to solving these challenges by employing fresh and creative ideas.

DUT’s Dr Abuobayda Shabat and his students had attended the GovTech 2017 conference and participated in the Hackathon competition that GovTech hosted to solve some of the socio-economic problems faced in communities.
Dr Shabat and his team members namely, Yasin Ayami, Buyani Mhlongo, Goodman Xaba and Mfundo Lukhwazi , worked for 48 hours without any sleep to create the Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub.

They had started from scratch developing a programme that detects potential crime threats before they occur, detects objects such as guns and unidentified people and broadcasts an alert signal to the relevant authorities. They had less than 48 hours to develop, test and present their project.

“If I told you that because of AI, we are able to use all the cameras out there to curb security breaches or detect potential crime threats before they occur, you would have thought I’m bluffing. Through what we presented during the Hackathon, we demonstrated that nothing is impossible. Probably what could make it impossible would be the lack of political and corporate will to support such initiatives,” he said

Dr Shabat said that the birth of the Silicon Valley and the emergence of the Mark Zuckerberg’s and Steven Jobs of this world did not happen from without and was as a result of the creation and sustainability of a conducive, encouraging environment that rewards and not punishes innovation and creativity.

“In support for such initiatives, the DUT IT department is on the verge of setting up an AI hub which will house AI solutions that can be used to solve some of the socio-economic problems faced in our communities. We are looking forward to such support from both the public and private sector that will enable the South African public embrace and benefit from technology. For our part, we are here to lend our innovative ideas. The AI hub is already producing visible results and recognition. It is hoped that this is the first of many recognised achievements by our hub,” he said excitedly.

In terms of challenges faced, Dr Shabat added there were some challenges. “For us to come up with our solution, we needed some advanced computers which we never had, so we were forced to use our own equipment which took time to do certain computations. The other challenge was that some students are doing their BTech, so it was somehow difficult for them to focus on the Hackathon as well as preparations for their end of year examinations,” he stressed.
Minister of Telecommunications, Mr Siyabonga Cwele and CEO of SITA, congratulated Dr Shabat and his team on participating in the GovTech competition and winning first prize. Both Yasin Ayami and Buyani Mhlongo are also previous DUTAppFactory students, who have no doubt done us proud. Well done on winning R30 000 and a beautiful glass trophy,” he said.

DUT’s Mrs Kesarie Singh: HOD: IT, also thanked Dr Shabat for expressing an interest to get involved in more amazing initiatives for DUT staff and students going forward.

Pictured: Dr Shabat and his team members, at the conference.

Waheeda Peters

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