Wamkelekile, Welkom
UCT graduates reimagine school shoes – innovation meets impact with Smart School Shoes
08 April 2026 | Video Production Boikhutso Ntsoko and Kamva Somdyala. Photo Lerato Maduna.At the University of Cape Town, graduates of the Genesis Programme in entrepreneurship have launched Smart School Shoes – a patented, world-first design that expands up to three sizes, directly addressing one of the quieter financial pressures facing South African families: the recurring cost of replacing children's school shoes.
Co-founded by Kelly O'Sullivan, Cindy McKenzie and Charne Verster, the idea was rooted in a simple but urgent reality – for many households, particularly those headed by single mothers, school shoes are not a once-off expense, but a constant strain.
The shoe combines an adjustable sizing mechanism, reflective safety features and embedded smart technology. The team has since earned national recognition through the EDHE Absa Innovation Challenge and Enactus, an international social entrepreneurship project presentation competition for university students. The team has also secured industry backing from Pick n Pay.
With the product still in development, the focus now shifts to affordability – ensuring it reaches the communities it was built for.
#UCT #UCTGraduation #ChooseUCT #Vision2030 #MarchGrad #AutumnGrad #UCTMarchGrad #2026UCTGrad #SmartSchoolShoes
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