The eThekwini Municipality is currently running a pioneering youth challenge that seeks to position Durban as an innovative and Smart City among its global competitors.

This programme is a partnership between the Municipality and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) as well as other stakeholders to provide innovative solutions to some of society’s most complex problems through technological innovation.

The partnership led to the development of a Hackathon concept where the youth can be engaged to provide solutions to challenges faced by the City.

Youth will be provided with the technology platform to use this unique opportunity to showcase their innovative skills and build technology solutions to address the business and social challenges faced today.

The challenge will provide the youth with opportunities to come up with innovative solutions to address socio-economic challenges facing the City by applying the latest IBM technologies.

Mayor James Nxumalo said this is the best platform of ensuring youth involvement in accelerating service delivery.

The Municipality is in full support of this programme to enable youth to come up with business ideas to encourage and enhance entrepreneurship growth.

“The Municipality is proud to have partnered with highly experienced experts in the technology sector and other stakeholders to drive the economy of the City,” said Nxumalo.

Participants will be capacitated to apply the latest IBM technologies, Big Data and analytic technologies to develop mobile applications that will address the challenges raised.

A large number of prizes are up for grabs and aspiring youth have until tomorrow, 15 May 2015, to register.

Interested youth who wish to participate in this exciting challenge can visit the website innovate.durban.gov.za and register online.