Following this victory, the 24-member team will represent South Africa at the 2025 Enactus World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, from 25–28 September, under the theme Empowering Graduates for a Sustainable Future: Integrating Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in Higher Education.
UMP Enactus President, Sibusiso Mntambo, said their success came after presenting two projects under the theme Educate, Empower and Sustain, aimed at building greener communities through knowledge sharing and measurable community impact.
“The team worked collaboratively to develop innovative projects and solutions that addressed real-world challenges,” he said. “We presented two remarkable enterprises – CSK Environmental Consulting and Ehlanzeni Star School.”
Both enterprises won in their categories at the National Expo, underscoring the team’s creativity, entrepreneurial drive, and commitment to meaningful social change.
CSK Environmental Consulting was founded by UMP student Cyprian Sandile Khoza and advances environmental sustainability in communities and water-intensive industries. The company was contracted to provide water quality monitoring for the source near the Kwangwane Anthracite Mine, but results typically took up to two weeks.
To address this, the Enactus team developed the CSK Aqua Device – a first-of-its-kind smart, real-time water quality monitoring system that delivers essential environmental data to small enterprises and mining companies.
Mntambo explained: “Integrated with the team's digital platform, the CSK Earth View App supports environmental consulting firms, mining companies, and affected communities in monitoring water safety. It measures pH levels, turbidity, and contamination in water sources impacted by mining.
The innovation not only reduces monitoring costs but also safeguards communities – turning environmental data into a tool for protection and advocacy.
“This innovation does more than cut costs – it safeguards lives and restores dignity, turning data into a shield for the vulnerable. Our goal is to simplify environmental compliance and encourage proactive pollution prevention, particularly in underserved rural and industrial areas. To further our reach, we’ve partnered with Brazil’s Ycatu Team to strengthen the technical and global relevance of our innovation whilst improving usability across diverse landscapes.
Through this, we extended our impact, raising awareness about the dangers of environmental neglect and pollution, particularly with primary water sources in rural communities.
The Enactus team will represent South Africa at the World Cup in Bangkok in September 2025.
Ehlanzeni Star School focuses on reducing dropout rates and creating pathways to higher education and employment. It offers opportunities to learners who have failed, dropped out, or wish to improve their matric results.
The Enactus team created a prototype mobile e-learning platform to provide quality educational support to learners in remote areas, addressing barriers such as transport, onboarding, and geographic isolation.
Founded by Master’s student Innocent Masilela, the Ehlanzeni Star School is a Matric Rewrite Programme built on the principle of second chances. In 2024, it won the National Presidential MSME and Cooperatives Breaking Ground SMME of the Year Award, outperforming over 400 entrants with its innovative approach to education and skills development.
Ehlanzeni Star School has had a transformative social impact, with 365 learners achieving their National Senior Certificates, more than 200 trained in computer literacy, and over 60 learners earning a driver’s licence. These achievements help bridge the gap between education and employability, fulfilling SDGs 8 and 10 – ensuring decent work and economic growth, and reducing inequalities.
Mntambo added that the team’s recognition at the National Expo reflected their ability to design solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges.
"The win was proof of the team's dedication and effort. It also reflects our ability to develop innovative solutions that address pressing social and environmental challenges. Our team also received recognition for the most growth – a testament to our hard work and perseverance.”
The UMP Enactus team also received the following awards at the 2025 National Expo:
- 2025 MTN Digital Transformation for Community Development Enactus Award (1st place).
- 2025 Harmony Entrepreneurship and Business Solution for Community Development Enactus Award (1st place).
- 2025 Ford C3 Cycle 12 Building Sustainable Communities Project Partnership (1st place).
- 2025 Enactus Award for Outstanding Team Growth.
Story by Nonto Nothana. Pictures supplied. Copyright @UMP