An inspiring story of innovation, collaboration and South African excellence

South Africa is celebrating a proud moment on the international stage: the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Solar Car Project has won the 2025 CAETS Communication Prize, awarded at the CAETS Annual Meeting in Brisbane, Australia.

The Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) Communication Prize recognises the world’s best audiovisual communication showcasing engineering innovation and impact. TUT’s video, “Sustainable Automotive Technologies: a TUT Case Study,” outshone strong entries from countries including China, India, the USA, the UK, Australia and the Netherlands to claim the top spot.

The entry was officially submitted by the South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE), a national body that connects South Africa’s engineering expertise to the global stage. SAAE was represented at the symposium by President TC Madikane, Vice-President Felix Reinders and SAAE Fellow Pine Pienaar, underscoring South Africa’s active role in global engineering conversations.

Showcasing African Innovation

For Dr Christiaan Oosthuizen, Senior Lecturer in Mechatronics Engineering at TUT, this project is deeply personal.

“I was inspired to showcase African engineering excellence. We often look to Europe and other advanced countries for excellence, but Africa can do this too,” he explains.

Since joining the project in 2014, Oosthuizen has integrated it into the university curriculum, turning it into a living laboratory of innovation. Funding has been a persistent challenge, but the team overcame this by designing and manufacturing about 70% of the solar car’s components in-house at TUT.

Their solar vehicle has already covered over 10 000 km on South African and Namibian roads, proving both its reliability and the team’s ingenuity. This approach, unlike many international teams that rely on off-the-shelf parts, has led to patents, postgraduate research opportunities, and a unique proudly South African achievement.

Changing Student Lives

Beyond the technology, the Solar Car Project is transforming lives. Bongani, a former student, secured a job by showcasing his contribution to the car’s battery cooling system during his interview. Others, like Gift, are now lecturers or working for leading international automotive companies.

“The biggest satisfaction I get from this project is seeing student progress,” says Oosthuizen.

A Proud Win for South Africa

Hearing that their entry had won on the international stage was a humbling moment.

“We followed the brief carefully and created a video that truly connected with people. Everything was made the good old-fashioned way, no AI, and I think that authenticity stood out,” Oosthuizen reflects.

The prize includes a monetary award and travel support, but its true value lies in the recognition of South African engineering excellence and the inspiration it provides for future generations.

Looking Ahead

Oosthuizen hopes this success will inspire spin-off companies, growth in local innovation and give young South Africans confidence that world-class engineering is possible right here at home.

The partnership between TUT, SAAE and CAETS has shown how academic institutions and professional bodies can work together to elevate African innovation globally.