Gauteng 2018 Activate Change Driver Sibongile Mongadi Recognised Among Top Winners at the Hollywood Foundation Gauteng Bambelela Business Awards

Gauteng 2018 Activate Change Driver and technology entrepreneur Sibongile Mongadi has been recognised among the Top 20 winners at the Hollywood Foundation Gauteng Bambelela Business Awards, reaffirming her growing influence in South Africa’s innovation ecosystem.

Born and raised in Soweto, Sibongile Mongadi is the founder of Ukuhamba (Pty) Ltd, an innovative company that develops affordable 3D-printed prosthetic and orthotic devices for people living with mobility impairments. Through her work, she is leveraging technology to improve lives while advancing inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship in South Africa.

Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Mongadi acknowledged that building a startup comes with many challenges.

“Running a startup company is not easy at all because you face financial difficulties, but we continue to soar. Focusing on the change we can make in people’s lives is what keeps me motivated,” she said.

The Hollywood Foundation Gauteng Bambelela Business Awards celebrate entrepreneurs who are driving innovation, creating jobs and making a meaningful impact in their communities. Ukuhamba (Pty) Ltd was recognised among the Top 20 winning businesses, a milestone that will support the company’s continued growth and impact.

Speaking about the recognition, Mongadi said the achievement reflects the impact the company is making within South Africa’s innovation ecosystem.

“Being recognised says a lot. It means people acknowledge the impact we are making as a company, and our contribution to the technology innovation ecosystem is not going unnoticed. This is a defining moment for me. Being able to create jobs while driving meaningful impact is a huge achievement.”

Mongadi, who joined Activate Change Drivers in 2018, says the programme inspired her to become a catalyst for change within her community.

“When I joined Activate Change Drivers in 2018, I knew I was going to become a real driver of change, starting with my own community,” she said.

As conversations around effective youth participation and digital inclusion continue to gain momentum across Africa, Mongadi believes that digital empowerment must remain at the centre of development efforts.

“If we are truly working towards building an inclusive digital society, we must implement people-centred programmes that ensure no one is left behind. Young people cannot participate meaningfully in the digital economy if they are not digitally empowered. Meaningful participation depends on the digital skills and talent they possess. The conversation on youth participation must go hand in hand with digital skills development,” she concluded.

Beyond her entrepreneurial work, Mongadi serves as the National Coordinator of the National Youth ICT Council, where she supports South Africa’s digital innovation ecosystem through programmes that empower young innovators and entrepreneurs. She has also played a leading role in initiatives such as the KZN InnovTech Annual Technology and Innovation Expo, which connects grassroots innovators and inventors with investors, industry leaders and strategic partners.

Through her leadership, innovation and unwavering commitment to inclusive development, Sibongile Mongadi continues to demonstrate that women and young people have a critical role to play in shaping South Africa’s digital future. While she acknowledges the challenges that many innovators face in accessing opportunities, she encourages women and youth to remain resilient, embrace innovation and continue building digitally empowered communities that drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

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About the Author:

Bongekile Filana is a digital storyteller working at the intersection of youth digital inclusion, technology and innovation. As a contributor to Activate Change Drivers, she writes about digital transformation, artificial intelligence and inclusive economic growth