BACK-TO-BACK NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR PNEUMATIC PROSTHETIC FOOT INNOVATION

iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu’s entrepreneur and innovator, Zanodumo Godlimpi’s groundbreaking pneumatic prosthetic foot has once again earned national recognition, bringing his innovation one step closer to turning an award-winning idea into a life-changing solution.

Godlimpi was recently named a finalist in the Disability Empowerment category at the South African Brewery (SAB) Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards. He secured R450,000 in funding, providing a significant boost as his innovation advances towards clinical validation, regulatory approval and commercialisation.

The recognition comes less than a year after he was crowned the national Education Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Studentpreneur of the Year, underlining the growing impact and potential of his locally developed pneumatic prosthetic foot.

Godlimpi said his latest accolade holds a different significance. “The pervious accolades provided enough validation to showcase this innovation on a national platform and gave me the resources to keep building, including equipment and travel, for the next phase of testing,” he explained.

“The SAB Foundation award looked at whether an innovation can become a sustainable business. They assess the business's impact and sustainability, which propels me further along the commercialisation pathway. Alongside funding, it provides business coaching to help de-risk the company and make it profitable.”

While prosthetic services exist in South Africa, Godlimpi believes that many users still relied on basic passive limbs designed primarily for simple walking. He said the real gap is adaptive, responsive feet, which can improve outcomes and reduce long-term problems such as the development of osteoarthritis on the non-amputated side.

“Our foot uses air pressure (pneumatics) to absorb impact and help push off, so it requires far less electrical power and can enable active movement without the same dependence on the grid. What is more important is that it is made in South Africa. Local manufacture means repairs and servicing can happen close to the user, instead of waiting months for an imported part or device,” he expressed.

Furthermore, the prosthetic foot is designed to perform on uneven terrain, accommodate long walking distances and be serviced locally.

Since its first prototype, the prosthetic foot has evolved significantly. The design has undergone multiple refinements, including optimisation of component placement, weight and height, and developing a control system capable of responding to the users' walking patterns.

“The next phase is larger lab and real-world trials, followed by safety validation, quality certification, and regulatory compliance before it can be sold,” he added.

Beyond winning accolades, Godlimpi envisions making prosthetic feet in three tiers: an affordable basic model, a mid-tier version with strong gait adaptation, and a premium version connected to an AI-powered app that tunes gait in real time.

He is also developing a child-focused prosthetic concept featuring playful superhero-inspired designs aimed at encouraging confidence and participation among young users.

"Mobility is how people experience the world and find their place in it. It reconnects people with their families, communities and livelihoods. Every step is a step back into belonging, and I want every South African to have access to that opportunity," he concluded.

By Thandeka Mgqibi