Women in Tech: 5 South African You Should Know

South African women are making their mark in the tech industry, which has traditionally been male-dominated. In recent years, we have just a few women who are into the tech related world. However, as we evolve into digital spaces and innovations, more exploits have been made by women related to technology.

In spite of numerous challenges and obstacles, women in tech in South Africa are breaking down barriers and making strides in a variety of fields, including creating apps, software development, data science, engineering, and the likes.

These women are keen on creating innovative solutions to pressing problems, thus, contributing to the growth of the South African tech industry. In this article, we would look at South African women who have braced up themselves and become prominent tech women in their country.

Baratang Miya

Baratang Miya is a South African tech entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Girlhype who is making a significant part in the tech industry. 

Girlhype is a non-profit organization that provides training and mentorship to young women and girls to encourage them to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The organization has since trained over 10,000 girls and has been recognized for its work by the United Nations and other international organizations

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Baratang also founded WeThinkCode in 2013, which is a tuition-free coding school that aims to address the skills gap in the South African tech industry. The school has a unique model that selects students based on potential rather than academic qualifications, and provides them with a two-year intensive training program that prepares them for careers in software engineering and other tech-related fields.

Baratnag goal is to build and develop women and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, and she has partnered with various organisations like UN Women, Mozilla, Technovation and the likes to make this happen.

Nthabiseng Mosia

Nthabiseng Mosia is a South African- Ghanaian tech entrepreneur who is making waves in the industry with her innovative ideas and dedication to creating positive change. 

Nthabiseng is the co-founder of the Seria Leone based company, Easy Solar, a fintech startup that aims to increase access to clean energy in Africa. The company provides affordable and accessible solar energy solutions to households and businesses in rural and underserved communities.

Almost a million people in Liberia and Sierra Leone have benefited from Easy Solar energy solutions. Nthabiseng is known as an advocate for expanding opportunities and horizon for African Women as well as providing solutions to Africa’ most pressing developmental challenges. 

Zandile Keebine

Zandile Keebine is a South African tech entrepreneur who is making a significant impact in the tech industry with her innovative ideas and an interest in technology and its potential to drive change and transformation.

Zandile is the CEO and co-founder of GirlCode, an organization that impact the lives of young girls through various programs such as free coding sessions, basic programming skills, digital literacy, and so on. The organisation aims to empower and upskill young women in the tech industry. 

These opportunities help them gain direct access to women in the tech industry as well as necessary skills and confidence to make them employable by top companies.

Tumi Sineke

Tumi Sineke is a South African tech woman who has made her mark in the industry. Her work is to include diversity and in tech after finding out there were not enough women in the tech industry.

Tumi is the founder of Trisanong, a tech inclusion consultancy that works with different companies to improve diversity and inclusion in tech. She has positively impacted lives with her knowledge and executes programs on a good scale which yield results through her coaching sessions.

Karen Nadasen

Karen Nadasen is a South African tech woman and the CEO of PayU South Africa. She has made significant contributions to the growth and development of the technology industry, breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings along the way.

Karen was formerly a product manager when she joined PayU, but over the years she rose through the ranks, taking on various roles within the company, including heading up PayU’s operations in Africa and the Middle East. She was appointed as the CEO of PayU South Africa in 2018, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the company’s history.

PayU Africa is South Africa’s largest online payment gateway, a leading online payment service provider that allows businesses to accept and process payments online. Karen is a  professional who has experience working in both Europe and Africa and a keen advocate for women in tech.