Sizwe Ntimane
Science, Tech, Energy, and Innovation
Nominee's Province:
Mpumalanga
Age:
31
Project Name/Description:
Acting Project Engineer – Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing
Nestled in central South Africa, the Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing is the pride of South Africa’s technological advancements. The facility specialises in 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Sizwe Ntimane, a 2024 Unsung Hero, is one of the dedicated engineers at the facility. As a project engineer, Ntimane designs medical implants for 3D printing technology, informed by the relevant quality management system that guides the facility on safety standards. Moreover, he operates and conducts maintenance on these machines. “The biggest highlight of my career was when I first went into theatre in 2019 at Netcare in KZN to observe the surgeons implant my first design onto a patient. The implant I had designed was a mandibular implant (lower jaw) in which we were going to use a fibular free flap to reconstruct the mandible. One of the product components I had designed was a new innovative component and the surgeon gave feedback that it is an effective product,” he states. Reflecting on SA’s three decades of democratic rule, Ntimane maintains that the government must equip pupils to compete in the fast-paced globalised marketplace. “If our country is moving at a snail's pace to educate young people we will always be a step behind. The curriculum in our schools needs to start having subjects that teach about 3D printing, robotics, coding etc,” he states, crediting institutions such as Central University of Technology, Free State and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research thought leadership in innovation.
