Thabang, the Inventor Who Gives the Sun More Energy
Thabang Moashetsi is a young inventor from South Africa who loves understanding how things work. His interest in science began at school, after meeting young inventors. Today, he is designing a machine that can clean solar panels and check that they are working properly.
In 2019, when he was 12 years old, Thabang visited an exhibition for young scientists. He saw students presenting their own inventions. The experience inspired him to create something of his own.
A few years later, he became interested in solar panels, large panels that use sunlight to produce electricity.
Thabang noticed that they can become covered with dust and dirt. They then need to be cleaned and checked to make sure they work properly.
So he created ASAMS, a machine designed to help clean and monitor solar panels.
Today, Thabang studies Computer Science at Tshwane University of Technology and continues to develop his invention through his company, Allketek Energies. His project is set to take part in a national competition in November 2026.
Thabang’s story shows that you can start inventing while you are still at school. Sometimes, all it takes is looking at a problem and asking: “How can I solve it?”
