The final 10 contestants in Cell C’s reality show “Hangman”, hosted by Maps Maponyane and broadcast on e.tv on Sundays at 11h50, have been revealed.
The innovators and their inventions, are:
* Bonex Mwakikunga (aged 50 from Pretoria): Breath-Tech Sensor, a diabetes breathalyser.
* Chelsea Anne Hornby (aged 24 from Roodepoort): Elle reusable menstrual cup and female hygiene management.
* Christo Rossouw (aged 35 from Klerksdorp): Mosquito repellent lamp.
* Claire Reid (aged 31 from Parkview, Johannesburg): Reel Gardening, a pre-fertilised, pre- spaced colour-coded seed tape.
* Dean Fegen (aged 41 from Alberton): The Polyhammer which replaces the need for copper and rubber hammers in underground mining.
* Lebohang Motsoeneng (aged 28 from Naturena in Johannesburg): The I-waiter is an electronic button device that attracts the attention of a restaurant waiter via a fashionable vibrating watch.
* Rupert Taljaard (aged 45 from Yzerfontein, Western Cape): Halt Lock is a revolutionary anti-theft/anti hijacking device that prevents the driveshaft of the stolen vehicle from turning the wheels thus preventing its theft.
* Sean T Armstrong (aged 35 from Bedfordview): Uni Click is a safety syringe that improves the safety, accuracy and precision of medical dosing.
* Sello Paul Malinga (aged 21 from Khuma in North West): Spinetector Suit – A protective costume or exoskeleton for use in mining and construction.
* Zithande Mbala (aged 32 from Atholl in Sandton): iWipe is a revolutionary new smart toilet paper that turns into a wet wipe when made wet by using regular tap water.
Mbala, who wants to revolutionise the way people see toilet paper, comments: “I think Hangman is the best thing that has ever happened to the world of innovation. I see it as a perfect highway to turn great innovations into success stories. There has never been anything quite like it; I’m sure it’s going to go viral and we’ll have many seasons ahead. I’m grateful to be a part of Season 1.”
For Rossouw, the inventor of a unique mosquito repellent lamp, it is a dream come true. “I would like to thank Cell C for this initiative. I know it might just be about good TV, but I don’t think they realise just how rare an opportunity this is for an innovator, especially guys like most of us who are working a day job and innovating at night.”
The Top 10 have won the approval of the backers (judges), captains of industry and investment, who are celebrity economist Iraj Abedian; self-made billionaire Quinton van der Burgh; Bonang Mohale, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa and businesswoman and entrepreneur Connie Mashaba.
Van der Burgh is impressed with the talent that they have seen on the show. “It was not an easy job whittling down impressive candidates with fantastic nventions to this final 10. However, any of these finalists could take the top prize — let the challenges begin.”
However, Hangman is more than a TV show with a weekly broadcast. Viewers can enjoy 24/7 entertainment via a Cell C Reality app where they can truly immerse themselves in the show. They can play “The Exchange” and win great prizes; get to know the Backers and watch sneak peek behind-the-scenes footage. Viewers can also get involved in the show itself — if their service matches a contestants’ need, they stand a chance to be in front of cameras.
All customers that download the Cell C Reality App automatically receive 100 000 points which they can use to participate in the ‘The Exchange’. Points are allocated to play the game. Customers win a variety of prizes by playing the game, including a car, scooter, smartphones, data, cash and vouchers.
The innovator who succeeds in garnering the support of the Backers, while rallying viewer/’investor’ sentiment, could walk away with a R1-million cash prize and everything needed to succeed in a 21st century market.
Contestants and viewers do not need to be a Cell C customer to play or download the app but Cell C customers will receive bonuses for participation and watching the show.
Hangman airs on e.tv (on DStv it can be found on channel 194) on Sundays at 11h50 with a repeat on Saturdays at 13h00. It also broadcasts on eExtra on Wednesdays at 19h30 with a repeat on Thursdays at 10h00.
