The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs announced the winners of the its website design Hackathon and also unveiled the website.

The new website is a product of a hackathon ran by EDTEA and the Moses Kotane Institute in a bid to promote innovation and youth entrepreneurship. Earlier this year the Department called on young designers to participate in the Hackathon for the design of the website.

About 100 entries were received. Part of the criteria was for the participants to develop a prototype which gave them passage to the next phase. The winners will be announced tomorrow at an event to be addressed by the Head of Department Mr Nhlakanipho Nkontwana and the CEO of the Moses Kotane Institute, Dr Thandeka Ellinson.

The winner of the Hackathon will receive R150 000 plus a chance to be incubated at the Moses Kotane Institute while the runner up will receive R50 000.

HOD Nkontwana said: “We are excited that the winning team is led by young women. The announcement therefore couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment than this one when we are celebrating women’s month. We chose to go the route of a Hackathon to give practical expression to the strategic collaborations that we are forever emphasizing in the Department”.