Fanelesibonge Mbuyazi, software program engineer at Sanlam Fintech, is among the 13 winners of the 2026 Wired4Women Awards.
Fanelesibonge Mbuyazi, software engineer at Sanlam Fintech, believes expertise should serve individuals and align innovation with actual human wants.
Mbuyazi received the Wired4Women 2026 Rising Star in Coding and Software program Growth Award, which recognises younger professionals demonstrating robust technical progress, coding excellence and early management in software program engineering.
Launched in 2024 by ITWeb Brainstorm and the Wired4Women Discussion board, the awards recognise girls making an affect throughout the tech sector – from college students to entrepreneurs and C-level executives. Mbuyazi mentioned the popularity reinforces the position of younger African technologists in shaping the longer term. “This win validates my work and challenges me to assume greater. It strengthens my dedication to utilizing expertise as a software for affect – not simply innovation, however empowerment.”
She described her participation within the Wired4Women Awards as each inspiring and grounding, broadening her perspective past conventional engineering to incorporate policy, creativity and group affect.
Sturdy area of finalists
The Rising Star: Coding and Software program Growth class attracted a excessive calibre of entries this 12 months. Mbuyazi was chosen from a shortlist of six finalists, with the opposite contenders additionally recognised:
• Amore Chipps, junior developer: IT, SARS
• Ashleigh Mabaire, software program developer advocate, Shesha
• Meinka Singh, junior developer, Discovery
• Nonhlanhla Zwane, cyber safety analyst, Outdated Mutual Insure
• Tshilidzi Tshitereke, junior software program developer, Kazang
Judging standards included ongoing studying {and professional} improvement, a confirmed observe file of delivering high-quality software program and fixing advanced challenges, and clear long-term profession ambitions. Winners have been introduced at a gala occasion on 16 April.
Tiyana Ngwonyana, COO of Geekulcha, which sponsored this award, mentioned the Wired4Women Awards highlight the depth of feminine tech expertise. “Gender disparities stay, however we’re seeing significant progress, notably in knowledge science. Curiosity amongst younger girls in fields reminiscent of cyber safety can be accelerating.
“It’s encouraging to see extra girls actively investing of their abilities and constructing careers in expertise.”