The Gauteng Department of e-Government has crowned Gridwise 10X from Johannesburg Region the overall winners of the 2026 Youth Tech Expo (YTE) G13 Hackathon, following days of competition that brought together some of the province’s brightest young innovators to develop technology solutions for Gauteng’s most pressing challenges.
The winning team emerged victorious at the YTE G13 Hackathon Finale, hosted in partnership with Microsoft South Africa at the Microsoft Offices in Johannesburg.
The YTE G13 Hackathon began in June with regional competitions held across Gauteng in partnership with Algo@Work. Learners from Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, the West Rand and Sedibeng were challenged to use innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop practical solutions to issues affecting communities, including crime, service delivery, water management, infrastructure maintenance and urban mobility.
The top-performing teams from the regional hackathons advanced to the provincial finale, where they spent two days refining their ideas using Microsoft’s world-class AI technologies while receiving mentorship from industry experts.
Following a rigorous judging process, the final results were announced as:
1st Place: Gridwise 10X – Johannesburg CBD (84.2%) 2nd Place: Chromomark – Tshwane (81.6%) 3rd Place: Civic Eye – Sedibeng (70.2%) 4th Place: SIRRS – West Rand (63.0%) 5th Place: Aqua Guard AI – Ekurhuleni (59.0%)
As the overall winners, the 10 learners who make up Team Gridwise 10X will receive Netcampus gift vouchers and a fully funded 12-month Master Tech Leadership Programme, which includes a monthly stipend for each learner.
The remaining 40 learners from the other four finalist teams will each participate in a specialised Skills Programme focused on Data and Artificial Intelligence, ensuring that every finalist leaves the competition with an opportunity to further develop their digital skills.
Congratulating the winners, Gauteng MEC for e-Government, Mr. Bonginkosi Dhlamini, said the hackathon had demonstrated the immense potential that exists among Gauteng’s young people.
“Today, Johannesburg takes home the trophy, but every learner who participated in this year’s YTE G13 Hackathon is a winner. Throughout this journey, we have witnessed remarkable creativity, determination and innovation from young people who are passionate about using technology to improve the lives of our citizens” said MEC Dhlamini.
Collectively, the prizes awarded to all 50 finalists are valued at more than R1 million, reflecting the Gauteng Department of e-Government’s commitment to investing in the next generation of digital talent.
This hackathon was never only about building apps or competing for prizes. It was about empowering young people to become problem-solvers, innovators and future leaders who will help build a smarter Gauteng. Government is committed to creating opportunities that equip our youth with the skills they need to succeed in the digital economy while developing solutions that respond to the real challenges facing our communities.”
Lerato Mathabatha, Executive Director, Public Sector, Microsoft South Africa, said, “Skilling South Africa’s youth is one of the most powerful investments we can make in this country’s future. The G13 Hack Finale shows what becomes possible when young people are handed world-class AI tools and a real challenge to solve, they don’t just build solutions, they reimagine how government can serve its people. We’re proud to partner with the Gauteng Provincial Government to turn that potential into tangible impact.”
Gauteng Department of e-Government
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