“VUT hosted its first hackathon in collaboration with Geekulcha and the Computer Sciences Club, empowering students to showcase creativity, innovation, and teamwork.”
14 October 2025 | Story By: Maswoba Raludzingana | Picture: Sifiso Nomzaza
2 minutes read time.
On Thursday, 9 October 2025, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) came alive with innovation and creativity as the Geekulcha Student Society (GKSS) VUT, in collaboration with the Computer Sciences (CS) Club, hosted the institution’s first annual internal hackathon. The event was open to all students, not only those studying Information Technology, to promote collaboration, creativity, and problem solving across disciplines.
The 24-hour hackathon took place from 9am on Thursday to 9am on Friday at the T Block Computer Lab, allowing participants to apply classroom knowledge, learn from mentors, and build real world solutions under time pressure. Supported by the Technology Transfer and Innovation (TTI) Department, the hackathon also marked the official launch of both the GKSS and CS Club.
GKSS is a student-led organisation that promotes digital skills development, innovation, and collaboration. The CS Club brings together technology enthusiasts to enhance coding skills and develop practical solutions through teamwork and creativity.
A total of eleven groups participated in the challenge, developing impressive projects that showcased both creativity and technical ability. After an intense 24 hours, teams presented their work to a panel of judges. The top three winners were announced: first place went to Fsociety, second place to Not Hackers, and third place to Tech Tribe.
Speaking at the event, Mr Teboho Selepe, Chairperson of GKSS and a third-year IT student, captured the spirit of the hackathon by saying, “Innovation starts with an idea, and anyone can make a difference with technology. We want to inspire young people to use creativity and technical skills to create solutions that positively impact communities and industries.”
The keynote address was delivered by Mr Phiwe Siyo, Technical Account Manager at Ontec, who praised the participants for their dedication and forward thinking. He noted, “Everyone who participated is a winner. You understood the importance of developing technology that solves problems. Making data an asset to industry is the key that will transform the future for anyone.”
Also in attendance was Dr Speech Nelana, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation, Commercialisation, and Internationalisation, who encouraged students to apply their learning to real-life challenges. “Train yourself to identify and analyse opportunities that are the path to success,” he said. “There is no hard work if you cannot see the opportunity. Hackathons like this allow you to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.”
The success of VUT’s first internal hackathon marks a milestone in promoting a culture of innovation, creativity, and collaboration. It demonstrated that with teamwork, mentorship, and the right support, students from diverse disciplines can become drivers of technological advancement and positive change for both communities and industries.