The Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and its engagement partners Tangible Africa and the Leva Foundation will host 10 000 youth in the #Coding4Mandela coding tournament on Mandela Day.

Teaching learners how to code is a springboard for careers in science and technology, which is needed for economic growth, said NMU Department of Computing Science head Professor Jean Greyling.

The tournament will see about 10 000 learners from across 70 sites in Africa, including Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and abroad, including Ireland, Germany and England, participate in the #Coding4Mandela event, themed 'Cultivating the coding ecosystem of the future'.

“We introduce learners to coding concepts using the mobile applications, RANGERS, BOATS and TANKS, which also enhances twenty-first-century skills such as problem-solving, strategy, communication, computational thinking and group work,” he added.

“This game has 30 levels of increasing complexity, introducing learners to various coding concepts that are taught in a first-year introductory module. The purpose on the day is for teams to compete on as many levels as possible in 30 minutes.”

However, learners must not only find the solutions to the levels, but must also strategise to find the best optimised solutions. They need to work out a strategy for the team of five to work as fast as possible, Greyling highlighted.

“Being from Nelson Mandela University, and with former president Nelson Mandela’s lifelong focus on education, it was an obvious choice to host a tournament on Mandela Day. It also allows our corporate sponsors to make a great impact towards education in our country,” he said.

Coding events will be hosted by the partners in Qunu, the Captivity Site outside Howick where Mandela was arrested; the Nelson Mandela Legacy Exhibition at Cape Town City Hall, where Mandela made his first speech after his release from prison; and Tangible Africa’s headquarters in Gqeberha.

The hosts from various sites across South Africa and Africa were bubbling with excitement as they eagerly geared up for the tournament, said Tangible Africa engagement manager Jackson Tshabalala.

“Their remarkable ownership and dedication to ensuring the success of the event is truly inspiring, showcasing their unwavering commitment to empowering learners through coding,” he said.

Each site’s organisers will challenge participants to bring along non-perishable food, which will be distributed to beneficiary organisations of their choice. Further, each site will decide on their own prizes, varying from medals, cash prizes, coding kits and mobile phones.

“After our Mandela Day coding tournament, we will work with teachers from the competing schools to identify talented learners who will join our Tangible Academy to prepare them for university,” said Leva Foundation CEO Ryan le Roux.

Overall winners will be determined through a virtual round involving the winning teams from all participating #Coding4Mandela sites. Winning categories will include senior primary and high school learners.