Samsung South Africa announced Tembisa West Secondary School as the overall winner of the 2025 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. The awards ceremony, held in partnership with the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and the Department of Basic Education, celebrated young learners using STEM to tackle community challenges.
Tembisa West’s victory was secured by their groundbreaking energy efficiency AI system, “Green Jarvis.” This smart system uses electromagnetic harvesting to produce energy and features sensors that monitor and optimise electricity usage, from lights to air conditioners, ensuring maximum efficiency for their school.
For the winning team, the achievement is profoundly emotional. “The way we feel is… words cannot explain how happy we are now,” expressed Ntumise Mafemo, a Grade 11 learner from the school. “We are very emotional because we can’t believe that such a small school from a small township, we are capable of doing this. So for us to be in first place, it really took hard work, teamwork, effort, and creativity.”
The team’s R100,000 prize money will be used to purchase vital STEM equipment for their school. Umlazi Comprehensive Technical High School and Koffiefontein Combined School placed second and third, receiving R50,000 and R30,000 respectively.
Lefa Makgato, CSR Manager at Samsung South Africa, praised the winners: “We are delighted to announce a remarkable example of how young innovators can drive meaningful change. This initiative aligns with our goals of enhancing STEM education and fostering a culture of innovation.”
For the learners from Tembisa, the win is more than just a title. “It really means a lot to us,” Mafemo shared. “It was a good experience. We will never forget this in our lives. And we are going to work here with pride that we are winners.”
