ABOUT THOBEKA NOJIYEZA
Thobeka Nojiyeza is based in Durban and is an emerging innovator with a strong foundation in both technology and finance. She is currently pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences with University of South Africa (UNISA) and is doing completing an IoT programme with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and her associate data scientist track with DataCamp.
The work of Thobeka Nojiyeza
Thobeka Nojiyeza is an exceptional young innovator and community leader whose work exemplifies the power of technology-driven solutions to address some of KwaZulu-Natal’s most pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges. Over the past two years, she has served with dedication at The Makers Club, an organization that functions as a launchpad for youth innovation by equipping young people with skills in electronics, programming logic, and mechanical engineering. Through her leadership and technical engagement, Thobeka has helped transform these skills into real-world solutions that directly benefit communities and key economic sectors.
One of her most significant contributions is the development of a Smart IoT Farming System, designed to address water scarcity, soil degradation, and the growing impact of climate change on agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal. By integrating real-time sensor data, mobile application access, and a user-friendly dashboard, this system enables smallholder and land reform farmers to make data-driven decisions, improve crop resilience, and reduce the waste of critical resources such as water and fertilizers. This innovation advances sustainable food production while empowering farmers with modern digital tools that were previously inaccessible to them.
In her role as Finance and Fundraising personnel, Thobeka demonstrated strong leadership and strategic thinking by successfully raising R480,000 in funding through the Moses Kotane Research Institute and the Technology Innovation Agency. These funds were instrumental in supporting prototype development and scaling pilot projects. The team was further incubated under the Startup Support Programme at Innovate Durban, strengthening both the technical and business foundations of their solutions.
Thobeka’s work has received wide recognition across multiple innovation platforms. She was named among the Top 10 Green Youth Indaba finalists, secured 3rd place in the Youth Innovation Challenge with Innovate Durban, and was selected as a regional finalist in the Huawei Innovation Track competition. These achievements reflect her ability to compete at high levels while remaining grounded in community impact.
Beyond agriculture, Thobeka led the development of AquaConnect, an IoT-based water and sanitation solution that leverages sensors and data analytics to ensure clean water access for rural communities and industrial users. The system performs real-time water quality checks, including pH and turbidity monitoring, and supports efficient filtration management and preventative maintenance planning. This innovation contributes directly to public health, environmental sustainability, and responsible water governance, this was presented to Innovate Durban, where she got her Women in Design award and secured third place in the Youth Innovation Challenge.
Her innovation footprint also extends to the mining and energy sectors through the MineSphere platform, an IoT-enabled system for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, energy efficiency, and safety compliance. Designed to integrate with legacy infrastructure and function in remote environments, MineSphere demonstrates Thobeka’s commitment to inclusive technological adoption and industrial sustainability. This solution earned her a place in the Top 10 at the TCS Sustainathon in Cape Town.
Additionally, Thobeka was selected among the Top 16 finalists in the UNISA Innovation Challenge, where she pitched her solutions nationally in Pretoria. Her work also addresses economic inclusion by developing an AI-powered platform that helps SMMEs manage finances, improve record-keeping, and maintain tax compliance—tackling key barriers to funding and business sustainability.
Thobeka Nojiyeza stands out as a visionary leader whose innovations intersect technology, sustainability, and social impact. Her accomplishments, leadership qualities, and dedication to empowering communities make her a truly deserving nominee for this recognition.