Durban pupils up for prestigious prize

TWO KwaZulu-Natal pupils, Snazo Nzama and Elihle Msomi from Adams College, have put their school and province on the map with their autonomous, Al-powered aquatic robot innovation, the AquaCrusader, which collects microplastics and nanoplastics from rivers, streams, dams and estuaries.

- THOBEKA NGEMA

Their innovation has earned them a ticket to the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, which is the highlight of World Water Week that will be staged in Sweden from August 24 to 28.

The Grade 11 pupils were selected for the trip to Sweden along with others from national competitions held worldwide.

The AquaCrusader minimises microplastics in aquatic environments without harming aquatic ecosystems.

Therefore, the duo's purpose was clear: to create an innovation that can collect microplastics in freshwater sources, and minimise the effects they cause in aquatic environments, biosphere and humans.

Snazo and Elihle said the AquaCrusader aligned strongly with the 2025 Stockholm Junior Water Prize theme, "Water for Climate Action," by offering a practical, technology-driven solution that addresses the climate impacts of plastic pollution in aquatic environments.

"We used STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) principles throughout the design process," Snazo and Elihle said.

What is the AquaCrusader?