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Software developer wins first GeoJozi street address solutions challenge

Thapelo Sekwena has been crowned winner of the first City of Joburg GeoJozi Developer Challenge.

The GeoJozi challenge was set up to invite young developers to create solutions that can help solve the challenges around the lack of street addresses, particularly in informal settlement areas, using Geographic Information System (GIS) data.

Sekwena, a junior software developer by profession, with almost no experience as GIS developer, came up with a solution called Redeem Jozi, which uses gamification, crowdsourcing and augmented reality to ask users’ addresses in areas that need addressing or validation, in exchange for rewards.

“Once you open the app, it gets your location and then gives you a set of points without addresses in your region. It offers rewards for places that need addresses or validation which the user completes. Once you fill in these addresses, you get rewarded with 100MB of data if you are the first to complete 10 locations within 30 days,” Sekwena explained.

The app can be used by residents aged 16 and above, with a smartphone, or PC.

Sekwena walked away with R150 000, which he told htxt.africa he would use to buy a new laptop, as his old one crashed during the pitching sessions of the challenge. He also plans to use it to start his own software company, which will comprise Redeem Jozi as one of his businesses.

Today’s announcement of the challenge’s winners coincides with International GIS Day, which provides an international forum for users of geographic information systems (GIS) technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.

“It’s been a remarkable journey to see young people being energetic and enthusiastic in this competition,” said Professor Barry Dwolatzky, Director of the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE).

Contestants all used the Esri GIS mapping software platform to build their solutions.

“Esri is very passionate about growing small businesses that are also passionate about innovation and we’re proud to be associated with the GeoJozi Developer Challenge,” said Senzo Nkoyana, from Esri South Africa.

Methembe Dlamini, came in second place, winning R100 000, while Absalom Mpanze claimed the third prize of R50 000.

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