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EZEKIEL PHALANA
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The 2026 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF) has celebrated the creativity, determination and scientific talent of young people from across South Africa and beyond, with outstanding participants earning bursaries, awards, cash prizes and opportunities to pursue further studies.
Held at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, the International Science Fair brought together 316 selected young scientists from 35 Eskom Expo regions across South Africa, as well as 24 international participants from countries including Brazil, India, Ireland, Russia, Lesotho and Namibia, with some taking part virtually.
For many of the participants, projects that started as simple questions about problems they wanted to understand or solve developed into opportunities that could shape their academic and professional futures.
Among the major opportunities announced were six provisional Eskom merit bursaries, recognising academic achievement, innovation and excellence. The bursaries remain subject to confirmation of the recipients’ final National Senior Certificate results and compliance with Eskom’s bursary and admission requirements.
The provisional bursary recipients are Helené Fourie of Trio High School in Welkom, Free State; Bongokuhle Kekana of Tersia King Learning Academy in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng; Tabita Nthunya of Zimele High School in Mthatha, Eastern Cape; Lihlelethu Shabalala of Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog in Nkangala, Mpumalanga; Juma Mahango of Parow High School in Stellenbosch, Western Cape; and Ruchik Joshi of Zinniaville Secondary School in Bojanala, North West.
The event also recognised four recipients of Eskom Special Awards, with each receiving a laptop and cash prize.
Tshepisho Vuyo Nkosi from Zacheus Malaza Secondary School in Mpumalanga received the Best Development Project award, while Charlotte Gibbens from Jim Fouché High School in the Free State was named Best Female Participant.
Reinhardt Rossouw from Hoërskool Zwartkop in Gauteng received the Best Innovation Project award, while Bongokuhle Kekana from Tersia King Learning Academy in Gauteng was recognised for the Best Energy Project
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Eskom Development Foundation, Mologadi Motshele, said sustained investment in young people is essential to strengthening South Africa’s future innovation capacity.
“Strengthening South Africa’s innovation capacity requires sustained investment in the people who will become our future scientists, engineers and innovators,” said Motshele.
She highlighted the role of the Eskom Expo in giving learners from communities across the country opportunities to develop research and problem-solving skills while having their abilities recognised on national and international platforms.
Motshele also emphasised that Eskom’s contribution extends beyond electricity, with the organisation supporting communities through bursaries and mentorship opportunities in both urban and rural areas.
“What we see at the ISF is the result of that investment: young people who are more confident in their abilities, better informed about the opportunities available to them and equipped with skills that can support their future studies and careers,” she said.
Eskom Expo Executive Director Parthy Chetty congratulated the participants and winners, describing their projects as examples of innovation, perseverance and excellence.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners, whose projects exemplify innovation, perseverance, and excellence,” said Chetty. “Their achievements inspire not only their peers but also the broader community, proving that science and creativity can shape a brighter future.”
Chetty also highlighted the longevity and reach of the Eskom Expo programme, which has been in existence for 46 years and has engaged with participants from 12 countries.
For two young scientists from the Nkangala Region, the evening brought a particularly significant opportunity. Hamzah Loonat from Hoërskool Middelburg and Shalom Lasimu from Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog were each awarded a Siemens Energy Higher Education Bursary valued at R675,000.
The bursaries will allow them to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Engineering at a South African university of their choice and cover tuition fees, textbooks, accommodation, meal allowances and a laptop.
Meanwhile, Scott Baker of Bryanston High School in Johannesburg received the prestigious University of Pretoria/Derek Gray Memorial Award, which includes a University of Pretoria bursary valued at R600,000 and the Derek Gray Gold Medal.
The 2026 Eskom Expo International Science Fair demonstrated the power of giving young people a platform to question, investigate and innovate. From classrooms and communities to universities and future careers, the opportunities created through the programme show how scientific curiosity can become a foundation for lasting achievement.
For these young scientists, the journey does not end with an award. Their research has opened new doors — and their ideas may become part of the scientific and technological solutions that shape South Africa’s future.