Special Needs School Wins R100,000 for Prototype That Makes Sports Gear From Old Plastic Bottles!

Photo Credit: Cape Recife High School

Learners from the Eastern Cape special needs school turn plastic waste into functional sports equipment, bringing home R100,000 for their school’s STEM equipment!

Johannesburg, South Africa (15 October 2026) – Out of 143 talented teams from public schools across South Africa, Cape Recife High School – a special needs school in the Eastern Cape – has taken first place in a national STEM competition!

The nationwide challenge invited young innovators to harness technology for environmental sustainability and sports-driven social inclusion.

Recognising the double burden of plastic pollution in ecosystems and the lack of affordable sports equipment in underserved communities, the Cape Recife robotics team engineered a brilliant solution.

They created an electronic device that processes recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles into high-quality 3D printer filament. Using this recycled filament, they could effectively 3D-print durable, functional sports gear for local youth teams!

Their inventive prototype wowed expert judges during the presentation and evaluation process, and earned the school the grand prize of R100,000 to purchase vital STEM equipment. Each member of the winning team also walked away with a brand-new smartphone to support their tech-for-good journey.

“We still can’t believe we won!” shared Grade 10 learner Kukhanya Mbebe, representing the first-prize winning team. “When we started, we just wanted to fix a problem we saw in our community. Working on this project taught us how to think like inventors and use technology to make a difference. As a special needs school, taking first place is a huge honor. We hope our solution helps make South Africa a better place.”

The robotics team has already made a difference beyond the competition, too!

During their term break, they visited the Maranatha Siyakatala Child and Youth Care Centre in Gqeberha where they donated handmade shin pads to support children and young people receiving care, recreation, and developmental support at the centre.

Cape Recife High School will now be able to buy new STEM equipment thanks to the R100,000 prize the robotics team won with their clever prototype. The equipment will benefit learners at the school for years to come!