Google, alongside ALX, hosted the annual Google South Africa Hardware Hackathon at AI Expo Africa, putting a spotlight on practical skills development and the future of data center operations talent on the continent.
The hackathon brought together 20 students in the hardware and networking field, offering them hands-on exposure to the inner workings of a global technology leader’s data centre operations. This year’s participants were selected from more than 130 applicants, reflecting the keen interest among young people to build careers in technical fields.
The students came from a range of backgrounds, from virtual assistants to software engineers; eight participants had tertiary qualifications outside of their ALX courses. Participants were driven by a hunger to learn, gain practical experience and work with peers – a clear sign of the value they place on building real skills, although many also saw it as a space to experiment, innovate and sharpen their problem-solving abilities.
As part of the Google Hackathon, four teams from ALX (The Recons, Techvators, Terminator and The Hardwarers) were given ninety minutes to assemble a server. After a nail-biting challenge, in which teams assembled CPUs and RAM, and created scripts to get their servers running, The Recons walked away with the win.
Kiara Maduray, a Hackathon participant and The Recons team leader said
“This was an amazing experience. One of our team members even traveled all the way from Cape Town to Johannesburg to participate. It was not only a fun day out, but an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, network, and gain practical experience using the skills learned in our ALX programs.”
Four women and 16 men were selected, underscoring both the strong interest and the continued need to attract more women into the data center operations.
Elliot Mokoena, Data Centre IT infrastructure manager at Google, says the initiative is a part of long-term support in developing practical data center skills: “The Hackathon gives students a real-world view of what it takes to keep the world’s digital infrastructure safe. It offers them a clear view of what’s at stake, and what’s possible, in data center operations.”
Mokoena says Google views the initiative as an opportunity to unlock potential in South Africa.
“We’re building the skills base that will drive Africa’s digital growth and keep its systems strong and secure.”
Aisha Jackson, Country Director for ALX South Africa said,
“At ALX, we see firsthand how access to hands-on learning transforms potential into expertise. We believe Africa’s digital future will be secured by the young innovators we empower today. This hackathon is more than a competition, it’s a launchpad for talent, curiosity, and courage. Together with Google, we’re building a generation of tech professionals who turn theory into impact, and help our continent thrive in the digital economy.”
The hackathon is structured as a bridge between technical theory and industry experience.
Last year’s programme saw a 112% increase in participants’ hardware career confidence and a 76% jump in technical competence. Every participant said they would recommend the experience to others.
These results point to the value of targeted, immersive learning experiences that open doors to specialised technology careers. Beyond boosting individual skills, the hackathon also strengthens the local tech ecosystem, helping address the country’s data center operations and infrastructure skills shortage.
The initiative forms part of Google’s broader commitment to advancing online safety and data center capacity in Africa. By grounding innovation in security, the company aims to build digital systems that can support safer, more inclusive growth across the region.
