Shoprite and Trevor Noah Foundation Launch AI and Robotics Hub in Soweto
Shoprite and Trevor Noah Foundation Launch AI and Robotics Hub in Soweto. A new robotics laboratory launched at Siyabonga Secondary School is set to expand access to coding, robotics and artificial intelligence education for learners in Soweto through a partnership between the Shoprite Foundation and the Trevor Noah Foundation.
The facility officially opened on 21 May and will provide learners and educators with access to technology-focused training programmes covering coding, robotics and emerging digital tools such as motion sensors, microcontrollers and smart devices capable of collecting and responding to data.
The new lab forms part of the Trevor Noah Foundation’s Khulani Schools programme and is the organisation’s fifth robotics lab established in Gauteng.
According to the organisations involved, the initiative is intended to help learners build practical technology skills while improving access to digital education opportunities in underserved communities.
Maude Modise, director of the Shoprite Foundation, said robotics and coding are becoming increasingly important in modern education and future careers.
She said introducing robotics labs into South African schools helps learners gain exposure to technology skills that are already shaping industries and workplaces globally.
The Siyabonga Secondary School lab also creates a continuation pathway for learners who previously attended Moses Kotane Primary School, which already has an established robotics lab.
The programme has been designed to support learners from Grade 8 through to matric. Grades 8 and 9 will participate in curriculum-aligned coding and robotics lessons during the school day, while learners in Grades 10 to 12 will take part in after-school programmes focused on artificial intelligence and career preparation.
Schools participating in the initiative are also encouraged to establish long-term robotics clubs beyond the formal programme.
Olona Tywabi said digital learning initiatives are about more than access to technology, adding that they also help learners build confidence, creativity and future career opportunities.
The partnership combines the Trevor Noah Foundation’s education programmes with the Shoprite Foundation’s support for community infrastructure development.
The Shoprite Foundation said the Siyabonga lab is the seventh facility it has supported, following earlier launches in Dullstroom and Khayelitsha earlier this year.
Sifiso EdTech is responsible for curriculum development, teacher training and operational support for the programme.
The organisation said learners will use coding and robotics to work on practical projects linked to real-world community challenges, including safety systems and water management solutions for school and community gardens.
