Enactus UKZN Shines at 2026 National Exposition

The Enactus University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) team took part in the 2026 Enactus South Africa National Exposition recently. Through its flagship enterprise, MyPanic, the team achieved several notable results at the national competition.

MyPanic is a safety ecosystem developed to bridge the gap between danger and response. Designed specifically for students, it comprises three components: a panic-alert device, an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS)-based location-tracking mobile application and a network of Safety Marshals who serve as primary responders.

The Enactus UKZN team won the Ford Resilience Challenge, a special competition sponsored by Ford Philanthropy, receiving a cash prize of $5 000 (R83 000). The team was also named runner-up in the Early Starters competition.

Enactus UKZN returned to the Impact Challenge finals for the first time in three years, securing a place among the top four teams nationally and finishing as second runner-up. MyPanic was also recognised with the Harmony Entrepreneurship and Business Solutions for Community Development Award and the MTN Digital Transformation Award.

The team’s second enterprise, CultiMart, aims to alleviate food insecurity and unemployment by connecting small-scale farmers directly with consumers through a farm-to-table model. CultiMart ranked among the top 15 in the 2025/2026 MTN Digital Innovation Challenge and received R25 000 and a laptop.

The Enactus UKZN leadership was also recognised nationally, with the team’s Publicity and Marketing Officer, Ms Nqobile Shabalala, receiving the Enactus SA Marketing and Recruitment Excellence Award.

The achievements reflect the team’s commitment to developing innovative solutions to social and economic challenges across South Africa. The results have also strengthened Enactus UKZN’s determination to build on its national performance and continue developing enterprises with sustainable community impact.

The team acknowledges that these achievements would not have been possible without the commitment of its members and the support of its faculty advisors, Mr Bhekithemba Dlamini and Mr Muzomuhle Mhlongo. It also thanked its alumni and members of the Business Advisory Board for their support.

Enactus UKZN team President Ms Zekhethelo Gwala reflected on the challenges the team faced during the term and the growth that resulted from them. “The team embraced opportunities to learn, adapted to changing circumstances and remained focused on creating sustainable impact through entrepreneurial action,” she said.

Gwala also highlighted the growth of the team’s projects, stronger partnerships and the development of members who had taken on leadership roles. “The team’s achievements, together with its culture of collaboration, innovation and service, would motivate its continued efforts to create meaningful community impact.”

Words: Lonwabo Manzana

Photograph: Nqobile Shabalala