The week-long RoboGirl 2025 programme, hosted at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) by the Departments of Information Technology and Electronic and Computer Engineering in partnership with Lenovo Southern Africa and Toyota South Africa Motors, concluded in spectacular fashion on Saturday, 06 December 2025, with a glamorous Gala Dinner at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel. After five days of intensive drone technology training, innovation challenges, and mentorship sessions, the 80 young girls from 16 participating schools gathered to celebrate their achievements and witness the announcement of the top three winning teams for this year’s drone technology competition.
The evening opened with warmth and excitement as programme director, Dez Govender, welcomed guests and congratulated the girls for their hard work throughout the week. He commended their courage and dedication, reminding everyone that RoboGirl is not only a competition but a movement that continues to champion women empowerment in STEM fields traditionally dominated by men. Govender encouraged the audience to maintain the same energy and pride that carried the girls through their week of training.
Delivering the official welcome on behalf of Lenovo, Jane Govindsamy, Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Manager at Lenovo Southern Africa, reflected on her seven-year journey of championing educational initiatives that empower young women. Jane expressed how honoured Lenovo was to host 80 young innovators from diverse schools and communities. In her passionate address, she told the girls, “It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to RoboGirl 2025. RoboGirl is more than a program, it is a movement that shows technology is for everyone.” She said. Govindsamy reminded the participants that they belong in innovation, engineering, coding, robotics, and every corner of the STEM landscape. Shealso expressed deep pride in seeing how the girls had grown in confidence, technical skills and collaboration. Every learner who participated received a medal, certificate of participation, and a hygiene pack in recognition of their effort and commitment.
Representing Toyota South Africa Motors, CSI Coordinator Annisha Ragoonandhan delivered a powerful and heartfelt message that echoed the spirit of the programme. She highlighted Toyota’s long-standing philosophy of mobility for all, explaining that mobility is not only about cars, but also about creating pathways for young people to unlock opportunities. “When a girl builds her first robot, she is assembling confidence, courage, and vision,” she said, reminding everyone that RoboGirl 2025 is not just a technological initiative but an investment in human potential. Ragoonandhan praised the girls for their resilience and innovation, encouraging them to dream big as they continue shaping the technological future of South Africa.
The Umlazi District Director at the KZN Department of Education, Busi Mahlambi, delivered one of the evening’s most passionate keynote addresses. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to Lenovo, Toyota, DUT, Moses Kotane Institute, and all educators and parents for creating an environment where young girls can thrive in STEM. Mahlambi reminded the girls of their immense potential, telling them, when they invest in a girl, they ignite the future. She celebrated the RoboGirl participants for boldly stepping into spaces once reserved only for scientists and engineers, emphasising that their brilliance, creativity, and determination prove that innovation has no gender boundaries. Mahlambi also committed the Department of Education to working with partners to expand access to robotics and coding programmes, ensuring that more girls from KwaZulu-Natal benefit from opportunities like RoboGirl.
DUT’s RoboGirl Project Lead, Ebrahim Asmal, shared reflections on the evolution of the programme since its inception in 2022. He emphasised that the rapid pace of technological change demands that young people especially girls possess the skills that will shape future industries. Asmal explained that this year’s theme, Drone Technology, challenged learners not only to build and programme drones but also to think critically and solve real-world problems through teamwork and innovation. “Robogirl is more than a programme, it is a movement to ensure young women are not left behind,” he said, celebrating the hundreds of learners who have been empowered through RoboGirl and have since pursued tertiary studies in STEM fields.
The evening continued with a deeply moving contribution from Mustek’s National Production Manager, Ferial Pillay, whose personal story of overcoming hardship left a lasting impression on the room. She encouraged the girls to stay grounded, resilient, and proud of where they come from, reminding them that true success shines from the heart, not from material things.
They announced the top three 2025 RoboGirl champions. In third place was Sastri College, followed by Southlands Secondary School in second place. The prestigious first place went to Verulam Islamic School, whose exceptional creativity, teamwork, and technical execution impressed the panel of judges. Grade 9 learner Aaqilah Shaik, representing the winning team, expressed her excitement:
“I feel absolutely elated to have won such a tough competition, especially among individuals with such esteemed minds. It was tough, but thanks to our tutor and wonderful instructor, we pushed through and managed to take first place,” she explained.
As the programme drew toward its close, Lenovo’s Distribution Manager, Fozia Martin, delivered the vote of thanks, paying tribute to all partners, sponsors, mentors, judges, educators, and parents whose dedication ensured the success of RoboGirl 2025. She acknowledged the tireless work of Lenovo’s CSI organising team, DUT mentors and lecturers, the event coordinators, and all support teams who played vital roles behind the scenes.
Pictured: Some of the winners announced at the gala dinner at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel.
Photography: Morgen Kisten
Sinamile Sithole
