The Eastern Cape may be one of South Africa’s poorest provinces but that has not stopped it from becoming a world leader when it comes to inventing things.
A free Great South African Inventions exhibition at Scifest Africa in Grahamstown is inspiring a whole new generation of innovators to reach for the stars by showcasing some of the greatest ideas to come out of the country.
Inventions like the Kreepy Krauly pool cleaner, medical CAT Scan, Pratley’s Putty, the kiddie swimming Bentley Belt, shark pod deterrent, prepaid airtime and even braai tongs that have a built in torch that comes on when you squeeze them together to turn the boerewors are just a few of the South African innovations that have made it big around the world.
According to retired Rhodes University ichthyologist, Professor Mike Bruton, the Eastern Cape can lay claim to acclaimed inventions like concrete dolos, a speed fermenter to brew traditional Xhosa iqhilika quicker, a giant drill bit that safely bores underground travel tunnels and innovations like the world famous Mrs Balls chutney brand.
“South Africa has always punched well above its weight on the international scene considering our geographical location in the world. We have good infrastructure that supports innovation.”
Besides putting together the travelling exhibition to promote local innovation in 2004, Bruton – who was born in East London – has also written a book highlighting the greatest South African inventions and innovations.
According to Bruton, challenges however included trying to keep some our of best inventors in the country and encouraging more women and black people to try their hand at inventing things.
Great brains that have relocated overseas include Elon Musk and Mark Shuttleworth – who has used some of his fortune to inspire South African youth to become scientists one day.
Young and old Scifest fans have been flocking to the exhibition since it opened.
“The response at Scifest has been very good; it is important to bring something like this here because science and technology is all about innovation. People think that good inventions only happen elsewhere in the world – an exhibition like this shows there are a lot of things happening in South Africa.”
Bruton said anybody could be an inventor if they applied themselves properly.
Although not really an inventor himself, Bruton did come up with innovative techniques to mass capture fish and to quantify data.
He said “one of the most amazing inventions in the world” came from Grahamstown-born and raised James Greathead in the 1870s.
The Greathead shield was a giant hollow drill bit that was powered by electricity and was used to bore the London Underground train systems.
“It made working underground so much safer.”
Other great Eastern Cape inventions include the dolos which was designed by Aubrey Kruger to replace blocks at the East London harbour in 1956 and is now used in 140 countries, and Grahamstown’s speed fermenter designed by Garth Cambray.
Mrs Balls Chutney originated in King Williams Town and was a world innovation like Milo and a Marmite.
Bruton said South Africa’s greatest invention was the CAT Scan which was judged number 53 in the world’s top 100 inventions and won a Nobel Prize. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
E Cape inventors are among world’s best
A free Great South African Inventions exhibition at Scifest Africa in Grahamstown is inspiring a whole new generation of innovators to reach for the stars by showcasing some of the greatest ideas to come out of the country.
Inventions like the Kreepy Krauly pool cleaner, medical CAT Scan, Pratley’s Putty, the kiddie swimming Bentley Belt, shark pod deterrent, prepaid airtime and even braai tongs that have a built in torch that comes on when you squeeze them together to turn the boerewors are just a few of the South African innovations that have made it big around the world.
According to retired Rhodes University ichthyologist, Professor Mike Bruton, the Eastern Cape can lay claim to acclaimed inventions like concrete dolos, a speed fermenter to brew traditional Xhosa iqhilika quicker, a giant drill bit that safely bores underground travel tunnels and innovations like the world famous Mrs Balls chutney brand.
“South Africa has always punched well above its weight on the international scene considering our geographical location in the world. We have good infrastructure that supports innovation.”
Besides putting together the travelling exhibition to promote local innovation in 2004, Bruton – who was born in East London – has also written a book highlighting the greatest South African inventions and innovations.
According to Bruton, challenges however included trying to keep some our of best inventors in the country and encouraging more women and black people to try their hand at inventing things.
Great brains that have relocated overseas include Elon Musk and Mark Shuttleworth – who has used some of his fortune to inspire South African youth to become scientists one day.
Young and old Scifest fans have been flocking to the exhibition since it opened.
“The response at Scifest has been very good; it is important to bring something like this here because science and technology is all about innovation. People think that good inventions only happen elsewhere in the world – an exhibition like this shows there are a lot of things happening in South Africa.”
Bruton said anybody could be an inventor if they applied themselves properly.
Although not really an inventor himself, Bruton did come up with innovative techniques to mass capture fish and to quantify data.
He said “one of the most amazing inventions in the world” came from Grahamstown-born and raised James Greathead in the 1870s.
The Greathead shield was a giant hollow drill bit that was powered by electricity and was used to bore the London Underground train systems.
“It made working underground so much safer.”
Other great Eastern Cape inventions include the dolos which was designed by Aubrey Kruger to replace blocks at the East London harbour in 1956 and is now used in 140 countries, and Grahamstown’s speed fermenter designed by Garth Cambray.
Mrs Balls Chutney originated in King Williams Town and was a world innovation like Milo and a Marmite.
Bruton said South Africa’s greatest invention was the CAT Scan which was judged number 53 in the world’s top 100 inventions and won a Nobel Prize. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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