South Africa, a nation bestknown for its gorgeous landscapes and wealthy cultural tapestry, additionally possesses a exceptional historical past of scientific and technological innovation.
From ground-breaking medical procedures to on a regular basis conveniences and world-beating engineering options, South African inventors have left an indelible mark on the world.
From CT scanners to a pioneering electrical automotive, TechCentral has collated 15 of one of the best innovations from South Africa – and had a have a look at the individuals behind them.
1. Computed tomography scanner (circa 1960)
Whereas the primary working scanner was constructed within the UK, South African physicist Allan MacLeod Cormack developed the essential mathematical strategies and algorithms essential for computed tomography (CT) scanning. His theoretical work, carried out partly on the College of Cape City, laid the muse for reconstructing a cross-sectional picture from X-ray projections. For this contribution, he shared the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Drugs with Godfrey Hounsfield.
2. Wadley Loop receiver (Fifties)
Invented by Dr Trevor Wadley on the CSIR within the Fifties, the Wadley Loop receiver was a extremely subtle radio receiver circuit. Its genius lay in utilizing a harmonic mixing system to cancel out frequency drift, permitting for secure, correct tuning throughout huge frequency bands with out requiring quite a few costly, precision-cut crystals. This considerably improved the efficiency and flexibility of high-frequency communications receivers used globally for many years.
3. Tellurometer (1957)
One other ground-breaking invention by Wadley and his crew on the CSIR, the Tellurometer was the world’s first profitable microwave digital distance measurement (EDM) machine. Launched round 1957, it allowed surveyors to measure distances between factors tens of kilometres aside with excessive accuracy and velocity by timing microwave indicators. It revolutionised geodetic surveying, mapping and large-scale engineering tasks worldwide.
4. Dolosse (1963)
Anybody who has visited a South African harbour or certainly many harbours all over the world, will recognise these distinctive, interlocking concrete blocks. Dolosse have been invented by Eric Merrifield, the then-harbour engineer in East London. Designed to guard harbour partitions and breakwaters from the immense energy of waves, their advanced geometric form dissipates vitality successfully and so they stay secure even beneath extreme situations.
5. Kreepy Krauly (1974)
Making pool upkeep considerably simpler for hundreds of thousands worldwide, the Kreepy Krauly automated pool cleaner was invented by Ferdinand Chauvier, an engineer who immigrated to South Africa from Belgian Congo. Developed in Springs, Gauteng, the Kreepy makes use of the suction from the pool’s pump to navigate the pool flooring and partitions, vacuuming up particles because it goes. It turned an enormous industrial success and a staple for pool homeowners globally.
6. Pratley Putty (Nineteen Sixties)
This extremely sturdy epoxy adhesive was invented by George Pratley in Krugersdorp whereas he was making an attempt to create a glue to carry parts inside {an electrical} field collectively. Pratley Putty gained worldwide fame for its exceptional power and flexibility. It even achieved cosmic renown, getting used aboard the Apollo 11 Eagle touchdown craft throughout its mission to the moon, making it the one South African product to have travelled all the best way to the lunar floor.
7. Sasol’s oil-from-coal expertise (from the Fifties)
Whereas based mostly on the German Fischer-Tropsch course of, the South African Coal Oil and Gasoline Company (higher often known as Sasol) pioneered the large-scale, commercially viable conversion of coal into artificial fuels and chemical compounds. Pushed initially by the necessity for vitality independence throughout apartheid-era sanctions and the nation’s lack of crude oil reserves, Sasol turned a world chief in gas-to-liquids and coal-to-liquids expertise.
8. Q20 lubricant (1950)
A ubiquitous product in South African households and workshops, Q20 is a multipurpose lubricant and water displacer. It was invented in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, by a Mr Robertson. The identify reportedly stands for “having 20 solutions to twenty questions”, highlighting its versatility for stopping rust, easing friction, and cleansing and defending metallic surfaces.
9. Velocity gun utilized in cricket – (circa 1992)
Whereas radar velocity weapons existed earlier, the particular utility and refinement for precisely measuring the velocity of cricket balls is strongly linked to South African innovation. Engineer Henri Johnson, working with the corporate Tellumat in Cape City, is usually credited with growing the system that turned normal in worldwide cricket broadcasts, including a brand new dimension to the evaluation and delight of the game.
10. Backtracker (2014)
A privately held firm based mostly in Stellenbosch, iKubu, developed a “Backtracker” low-energy bike radar system that offered cyclists with situational consciousness by displaying the velocity and distance of autos approaching from behind. In January 2015, Garmin acquired the property of the start-up firm and built-in it into its portfolio of merchandise.
11. Retinal Cryoprobe (1965)
Johannesburg ophthalmologist Dr Selig Percy Amoils invented the Amoils Cryo-Pencil in 1965. This machine used the intense chilly generated by quickly increasing fuel (like nitrous oxide or carbon dioxide) by means of a high-quality tip to freeze and cling to eye tissues. It considerably superior ophthalmic surgical procedure, significantly for repairing retinal detachments and, most famously on the time, for intracapsular cataract extraction, making the process a lot safer and less complicated. Amoils obtained worldwide acclaim and awards for this invention.
12. CyberTracker software program (circa 1996)
Initially conceived by Louis Liebenberg and developed with Justin Steventon, CyberTracker was created to empower illiterate Kalahari San trackers to report advanced ecological observations utilizing handheld gadgets. Its genius lies within the easy, customisable, icon-based interface that permits customers, no matter literacy degree, to seize detailed, geo-referenced knowledge factors (animal sightings, observe particulars and environmental situations, for instance). This free software program has turn out to be a world device utilized in conservation, wildlife administration, agriculture, environmental monitoring, catastrophe reduction, citizen science and empowering indigenous data techniques.
13. Pay-as-you-go cell system (circa 1994 to 1996)
South African cell networks MTN and Vodacom have been international pioneers in launching and scaling the pay as you go cell phone system. This industrial mannequin allowed customers to purchase airtime upfront with out contracts, offering entry to cell telephony to hundreds of thousands of people that couldn’t beforehand afford it. It turned the blueprint for cell telecommunications throughout the growing world.
14. Joule electrical automotive (developed 2008 to 2012)
Developed by Cape City-based firm Optimum Vitality, the Joule was a classy, five-seater, all-electric passenger automobile designed by Keith Helfet. Unveiled in 2008, it represented a major South African endeavour within the rising EV market, however was manner forward of its time. Whereas prototypes have been constructed, the bold undertaking finally didn’t safe enough funding for mass manufacturing.
15. Mxit (launched in 2005)
Based by Herman Heunis, Mxit was a pioneering cell instantaneous messaging utility within the pre-smartphone period. Operating totally on characteristic telephones utilizing Java, it provided extraordinarily low-cost communication utilizing cell knowledge. With chatrooms and social options, it exploded in recognition, significantly amongst younger South Africans, reaching tens of hundreds of thousands of customers at its peak and dominating the native social cell panorama earlier than the worldwide rise of smartphone platforms like WhatsApp. Mxit closed in 2016 beneath new possession. Heunis handed away in 2022 after a two-year battle with pancreatic most cancers. – © 2025 NewsCentral Media
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