TechFinancials News and Empire Partner Foundation celebrate September’s TFS Q&A Competition winner, Asive Daniel Simoki, a young visionary from Khayelitsha, Cape Town, who is turning personal challenges into powerful innovation.
The winner, a passionate student currently training as a full-stack developer, has always been driven by a love for learning and technology, and after initially pursuing a BA Law degree, financial and personal circumstances forced him to pause his studies. But his journey did not stop there; he redirected his energy towards technology, discovering a passion for artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to shape the future of South Africa.
This month’s question was “How can AI protect our heritage and keep our public spaces safer?”. We invited young South Africans to imagine how artificial intelligence could preserve culture while creating safer, more inclusive communities.
Asive’s winning response stood out for its clarity, practicality, and lived experience. He highlighted how AI can digitally preserve historic landmarks and indigenous languages through 3D scanning, digital twins, and translation tools, while also suggesting real-time surveillance systems, predictive analytics, and smart sensors to improve safety in public spaces.
“I see AI as one of the fastest-growing industries, especially in South Africa. I want to be part of that change,” Asive explained.
For him, South African heritage is deeply personal. “Heritage is a part of me. My wish is to always preserve and protect it so that future generations can also experience it,” he said, emphasising the importance of cultural identity alongside technological progress.
Winning the TFS Q&A competition is more than recognition, it is a lifeline. “I’m very happy. The laptop I’ve been using is old and slow, so winning this will allow me to buy a new one. It means I’ll finally be able to work on my projects at the level I want to,” he shared.
His drive to innovate comes from lived experience. Earlier this year, he lost his brother to a violent crime in South Africa. That painful moment inspired him to think deeply about how technology could help. “I was coding and thinking, what can I do to change things? I thought of creating AI-driven safety solutions and surveillance tools that could help authorities respond faster,” he said.
When asked what message he has for young people from communities like his, he was clear: “Technology empowers us. Let’s use it and make it work for our own growth and advantage. The future is digital.”
With resilience, vision, and determination, this month’s winner shows exactly why platforms like the TFS Q&A Competition matter: they shine a spotlight on the hidden talent within South Africa’s townships, where the next wave of tech leaders is already rising.
About the TFS Q&A Competition
The TFS Q&A Competition, part of EPF’s Solve 4 X initiative, is a monthly platform that challenges South African youth to think critically and creatively about real-world problems – using technology as a driver for innovation and impact. Each month, participants respond to a thought-provoking question, with one winner selected for their originality, feasibility, and vision.
The competition not only provides visibility and recognition but also empowers young people with the tools and opportunities to shape South Africa’s digital future.
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