CELEBRATING SOUTH AFRICAN INGENUITY There is much to be proud of when it comes to indigenous innovations and inventions. DALE HES looks at some of them
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outh Africans have always been resourceful people. Apart from our admirably peaceful transition to democracy, our country has produced some remarkable innovations that have spread around the world. From iconic shoes to groundbreaking medical achievements, we can proudly say that South Africa has left its mark on the global arena.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2019, Prof Mashudu Tshifularo became the first person to transplant 3D-printed bones for reconstructive middle ear implants at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital. The 3D-printed bones effectively replace damaged ear bones and have resulted in more affordable treatments for patients around the world.
MEDICAL INNOVATIONS
Who could forget Dr Chris Barnard’s remarkable breakthrough in 1967, when he became the first surgeon to perform a human-to-human heart transplant. In the decades since then, our country has celebrated several significant achievements in the medical field. Cape Town-born physicist Alan Cormack was instrumental in developing the first Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) scan in 1972, an invention that revolutionised medical imaging. Cormack undertook the crucial research that led to the building of the first CAT scan machine by Godfrey Hounsfield. Following this, Cormack and Hounsfield both received the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine.
The CAT scan was invented by Cape Town-born physicist Alan Cormack.
HOMEGROWN INVENTIONS WITH GLOBAL REACH
The veldskoen The first of these tough, iconic suede shoes was produced by Dutch settlers in South Africa in the 17th century, with the design influenced by the native Khoisan people. Today, veldskoen shoes are sold under a variety of brand names and have become popular around the world. Four years ago, Nick Dreyer, Ross Zondagh and Nic Latouf began producing the shoes under the trademark name Veldskoen. Their
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endeavours have greatly expanded the global reach of the humble “vellie”. “The veldskoen is one of the most iconic signifiers of being South African,” says Dreyer. “They are comfortable, hard-wearing and long-lasting. And they don’t take themselves too seriously, a bit like South Africans!” Apart from connecting South Africans, the Veldskoen brand has taken the shoe to a different level, with actors Ashton Kutcher and Mark Cuban counted as ambassadors in the United States. Prince Harry also made the news when he showed off his pair of vellies. “A year ago, we were only distributing in four countries, including South Africa. Today, we are very proud to say that
The world-famous veldskoen.
Veldskoen is distributed in 28 countries,” says Dreyer. In a move that will further bring international attention to the brand and vellies as a whole, the South African Olympic team will wear veldskoens at the opening ceremony of the games and when they are not competing or training.
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ome of South Africa’s best and brightest people have come up with weird and wonderful inventions that have taken their place on the global stage.
MADE IN SA
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2021/06/16 10:59 AM
