The Durban University of Technology (DUT) is pleased to spotlight Sydney Mandla Khanyile, a Master’s in Chemical Engineering student from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, whose work on water security recently earned him the ENVISION2030 Institutional Award.
Born on 11 January 2002 in the vibrant township of Alexandra, Johannesburg, Khanyile has built an impressive academic record that includes a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Chemical Engineering, an Honours degree in the same discipline, and a Silver Medal from the South African Institution of Chemical Engineers for being the Best Chemical Engineering Student of 2023. He is also a proud GreenMatter Fellow, a distinction that reflects his dedication to sustainability.
Khanyile’s award‑winning initiative tackles one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges: non‑revenue water loss. The platform he helped design blends community reporting, digital analysis and a coordinated municipal response to spot leaks early and act swiftly. His motivation stems from the country’s ongoing water crisis, where aging pipes and inefficient reporting waste billions of litres each year. By merging technology with grassroots involvement, Khanyile aims to create a solution that conserves water, empowers local residents and encourages youth participation in the stewardship of critical infrastructure.
What makes this project compelling is the way it translates academic research into tangible societal benefit. While serving as a research assistant on a Water Research Commission project under DUT’s Green Engineering Research Group, Khanyile contributed to several conference proceedings, including presentations on innovative wastewater treatment systems in Midrand, Cape Town and Durban, as well as international forums in Denmark and Vietnam where he represented South Africa as part of the national innovation team. These experiences broadened his perspective and underscored the global relevance of his work.
The initiative also embodies DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategic objectives. It promotes innovation in service of society, fosters entrepreneurial thinking, and advances sustainability and resilience. By building partnerships between the university, industry and municipal authorities, the project demonstrates how student‑led efforts can drive economic development, create jobs and transform lives; core elements of DUT’s mission. Khanyile’s emphasis on collaborative problem‑solving reflects the university’s commitment to producing graduates who are both technically skilled and socially responsible.
The road to impact was not without obstacles. Moving from a conceptual idea to a real‑world solution required earning the trust of municipal partners, who needed proof of technical viability and practical utility. Khanyile met this challenge by developing a functional prototype and seeking validation on international stages, notably being selected for the Denmark Data‑Driven Water Challenge in 2024 and the P4G Summit in Vietnam in 2025. These milestones provided global exposure and credibility, turning skepticism into partnership and opening doors for further development.
Among the outcomes he is most proud of are the successful creation of a working prototype, the international recognition that has highlighted the project’s potential, and the expressed interest from a major public utility to pilot the system. The initiative has also established a framework for skill development, showing how young engineers can meaningfully address infrastructure challenges and inspire future innovations. Through this award, Khanyile hopes to convey a simple yet powerful message: community engagement is not an add‑on to education but its very heart, and when students collaborate with communities, they forge solutions that are both technically sound and socially just.
As the DUT community celebrates Khanyile’s achievement, his story serves as a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge, when coupled with compassion and ingenuity, can generate lasting impact; locally, nationally and globally.
Pictured: Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola acknowledging Sydney Khanyile at the ENVISION2030 Institutional Awards ceremony.
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile.
Nontobeko Ngcobo
