Brief
Buff Bytes wins Wits Social Good Hackathon with pothole bounty app
The Buff Bytes team earned top honours for BlockFix, a platform that lets residents crowdfund pothole and illegal‑dumping repairs.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Buff Bytes, a trio of honours students from the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, won the 2026 Wits Social Good Hackathon on Friday at the Wits Science Stadium in Johannesburg, according to TechCentral.
What happened
More than 300 students from disciplines including computer science, engineering, mining, actuarial science and finance competed in the hackathon, which focused on themes such as gender‑based harm, health, fintech and the township economy. Five teams reached the final round, and Buff Bytes secured first place with their platform BlockFix.
What the reports add
BlockFix enables residents to drop a pin on a map, upload photos or video of a pothole or illegal‑dumping site, and start a small “bounty” that neighbours can add to. The money is held in escrow until a verified local worker completes the repair, after which the platform assigns the most qualified applicant.
What was said
Adapt IT co‑founder Ndamu Gumane told TechCentral that the hackathon offers no cash prize because “we didn’t want people to come participate for money,” emphasizing the event’s focus on internships, vacation work and talent scouting.
How it came about
The hackathon, launched in 2019 by Adapt IT’s Gumane and Wits senior tutor Pravesh Ranchod, aims to connect students with real‑world problems and potential employers, continuing a tradition of university‑driven social‑impact innovation.
Key facts
- Buff Bytes won the 2026 Wits Social Good Hackathon with their BlockFix platform. (techcentral.co.za)
- BlockFix lets residents crowdfund repairs to potholes and illegal‑dumping sites, holding funds in escrow until a verified worker completes the job. (techcentral.co.za)
- The hackathon offered no cash prize, focusing instead on internships and job opportunities. (techcentral.co.za)
Sources
- [1] techcentral.co.za — originally reported as “Pothole bounty app wins Wits hackathon”
