Enactus Sol Plaatje University (SPU) is celebrating a significant milestone after Team Aletra advanced as a Top 15 Finalist in the 2026 MTN Enactus Digital Innovation Challenge, held on 23 July 2026.
Each year, Enactus-affiliated teams compete at the Enactus South Africa National Exposition, where they showcase their social entrepreneurship enterprises across various competition categories that address real-world challenges through innovation and sustainable solutions.
The team’s innovative solution, Aletra, was developed in response to growing safety concerns faced by students living in off-campus accommodation. Inspired by incidents that have highlighted the vulnerability of students residing in private accommodation, the project seeks to address the critical gap in emergency response and personal safety experienced by many off-campus residents.
Aletra is a hybrid digital and sensor-based safety system designed specifically for off-campus student housing. The solution combines a smart sensing device with a mobile application to detect emergency situations and instantly alert students, landlords and accommodation providers, as well as emergency responders, including community policing forums, private security services and the South African Police Service (SAPS). At the same time, an audible alarm is activated to deter potential intruders and alert neighbouring residents, enabling a faster and more coordinated emergency response.
As one of the Top 15 finalists, Team Aletra received R20 000 in development funding, a new laptop and access to ongoing mentorship to support the continued development of the innovation. These resources will enable the team to further refine the technology and strengthen its impact as it progresses in the competition.
The team will now compete for a place among the Top 10 finalists, bringing them one step closer to transforming their innovative concept into a scalable solution that enhances the safety and well-being of students living in off-campus accommodation.
This achievement reflects Enactus SPU’s commitment to developing innovative, student-led solutions that address real societal challenges through entrepreneurship and technology. Sol Plaatje University congratulates Team Aletra on this outstanding accomplishment and wishes them every success as they advance to the next stage of the MTN Enactus Digital Innovation Challenge.
