Three learners from Mahlasedi High School in Gauteng won the 2026 AECI Future Leaders Challenge in Johannesburg on 30 October with a community project providing shoes to children in need. Denzel Tshabalala, Tumelo Dube and Sandile Phakati entered as the Gen Drive team.
Ahead of the local elections, their description of good leadership is straightforward: “being consistent and doing things when no one is watching”.
Gen Drive was among ten finalist teams selected from more than 500 team entries. The finalists represented nine schools across five provinces and attended a bootcamp in Johannesburg on 28 and 29 October before the awards.
The runners-up were Local Hearts from Siyabonga Secondary School in Gauteng, which supports learners with uniforms, stationery and homework, and Water for All Thabazimbi from Mabogopedi Secondary School in Limpopo, which uses learner-led water patrols to identify and report leaks.
AECI established the initiative as part of its Centenary Legacy programme. Delivered with Primestars, it focuses on servant leadership: putting other people’s needs first and taking responsibility for decisions and results. This year’s theme was “Catalyst for Change”.
“We want to develop ethical leaders who can recognise a need in their communities and take responsibility for addressing it,” said Nicole Solomon, AECI’s Head of Social Impact.
The programme combines an educational film, CAPS-aligned learning materials and digital resources with practical projects. Learners must explain the need they identified, how they involved others and used resources, and what their work has achieved. They also reflect on setbacks, ethical decisions and how their projects can continue.
According to the organisers, support beyond the awards includes mentorship, technology and bursary opportunities, intended to help learners continue their education and develop their projects.
The Gen Drive team also encouraged other young people to take responsibility for issues in their own communities. “It’s never too late to start,” they said.
