Nelson Mandela University, North Campus — 12 April 2025
In a landmark move for student-led innovation, the Geekulcha Student Society (GKSS) at Nelson Mandela University successfully hosted its first-ever official event a Virtual Connect for the ITWeb Cybersecurity Summit 2025 Hackathon Ideathon.
Organized in collaboration with ITWeb and Geekulcha, the event placed NMU students at the forefront of South Africa’s growing dialogue on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital resilience empowering them to engage with real world tech challenges and contribute meaningfully to the future of innovation.
Held on Saturday, 12 April, the ideathon spanned from 07:30 to 16:00 at NMU’s North Campus, drawing in curious minds eager to explore how AI can strengthen digital defense in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Capture The Flag Challenge
The event featured a Capture The Flag (CTF) cybersecurity challenge a hands on, individual competition that tested participants in areas such as ethical hacking, digital forensics, and encryption. Students had the opportunity to showcase their cybersecurity acumen and problem-solving abilities in a real-world simulation environment.
“This event wasn’t just about code it was about creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in tackling real-world threats,” said a member of the GKSS leadership team.
Building Momentum
This milestone event marked the official launch of GKSS-NMU, showcasing the leadership and drive of the university’s tech community. The event demonstrated how student-led initiatives can create real impact not just on campus, but in broader national efforts to build cyber-ready talent.
“We’re incredibly proud of the turnout, the teamwork, and the energy,” shared the executive team. “This is just the beginning of something bigger.”
A Connected Future
This Virtual Connect aligned NMU with the national ITWeb Hackathon Ideathon, linking student innovators with fellow cybersecurity enthusiasts from across the country. Together, they brainstormed and proposed innovative ways to combat cyber threats in Africa using emerging technologies like AI and automation.
Highlights:
• Capture The Flag (CTF) challenge
• Student-led team coordination
• Refreshments, networking & collaboration
• Real-time ideation with national participants
• A major win for student empowerment in tech
Read the full ITWeb feature here
https://www.itweb.co.za/article/ss25hack-ideathon-africas-future-cyber-warriors-brainstorm-for-battle/o1Jr5MxPkkoMKdWL