Minister Dlodlo to host a National Public Service Hackathon

The Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Ms. Ayanda Dlodlo will, on the 28th – 30th September 2018, host a National Public Service Hackathon, an innovation venture that focuses on developing technological solutions to improve the delivery of government services.

The Hackathon, which will be held in partnership with Geekulcha, at the University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park, is a national solution-oriented mechanism that is a culmination of an on-going innovative project where young innovators and reformers from various sectors are called upon to develop and present innovations and ideas that can assist to address challenges experienced by government in delivering services.

200 young innovators and developers between the ages of 14 and 27 years of age from across the country are expected to participate in the three- day challenge. The young innovators are expected, within 72 hours, to develop innovative solutions around government challenges relating to the improvement of maternal health services, safer homes and schools, Gender Based Violence victim support and services solutions as well as youth skills and work issues.

The Hackathon will be attended by around 500 participants with consisting of young people from the public and private sector, business representatives, industry experts, academia, government officials and public sector innovation trailblazers.

The event will also host various exhibitions from government and technology partners, as well as workshops where participants will be educated on the benefits and value of technology.

The three- day Hackathon serves as a closing event to the month- long Public Service Month activities that took place across the country under the theme: Thuma Mina: Taking Public Service to the People: Batho Pele: We Belong, We Care, We Serve.’

Source: Government of South Africa