There are a number of products that have had a significant global impact, but which not many people know were developed in South Africa. Many things we use daily rarely prompt us to consider their origins.
South Africa has contributed to many of these developments. As part of celebrating Heritage Month, it is worth paying attention not only to the people, places, cuisine, and traditions that usually form conversations about the country's heritage, but also to its history of innovation.
Below are five South African inventions and innovative solutions that have influenced far beyond the country's borders.
Kreepy Krauly
Kreepy Krauly is likely one of South Africa's most recognizable pool cleaning inventions across the country. South African engineer Ferdinand Schouwer created the automatic pool cleaner in 1974. His goal was to create a device capable of cleaning a pool using the existing filtration system.
The initial prototype was made of wood, rubber, and plastic. It used suction from the pool's filtration system to move around and collect dirt and debris. Later, this invention was adapted for international markets and became one of the world's most famous automatic pool cleaning systems.
Pratley Putty
A small tube of Pratley Putty hides a very unusual chapter in South African history. George Montague Prattley and his team developed the epoxy paste in the early 1960s for use with electrical junction boxes. It was designed to insulate and securely fix electrical connections.
Due to its versatility, the paste soon found application in many other fields. However, its most famous mission became space. Pratley Putty was used in the Apollo 11 mission and reached the Moon in 1969, which is a remarkable example of South African ingenuity reaching the pinnacle of technological achievement.
The CAT Scan
The CAT scanner, now more commonly called the CT scanner, has a significant connection to South Africa through physicist Allan M. Cormack. Born in Johannesburg, Cormack developed the mathematical foundations that allowed for the reconstruction of cross-sectional images of the human body using X-rays taken from different angles.
His work, together with British engineer Godfrey Hounsfield, led to the creation of computed tomography. Both received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1979 for their achievements. It should be noted that the CT scanner is not exclusively a South African invention, but Cormack's contribution was fundamental to the technology that transformed medical imaging.
Dolosse
These massive, unusually shaped concrete blocks, used to protect harbors, may look like abstract sculptures, but they serve a very important function. Dolosse were developed in East London in the 1960s to protect port structures from powerful waves. These interconnected concrete elements absorb and dissipate wave energy, helping to reduce damage to coastal infrastructure.
The design is typically attributed to harbor engineer Eric Moubray Merrifield, although draftsman Aubrey Kruger also played an important role, later disputing how recognition is distributed. This design was subsequently applied in coastal construction projects outside of South Africa.
The speed gun
The next time you watch cricket and see the ball speed displayed on screen, you are likely seeing the legacy of South African innovation. South African engineer Henri Johnson developed a radar system to measure the speed and trajectory of fast-moving sporting objects. His technology was adapted for sports such as cricket and tennis, allowing broadcasters and spectators to see how fast the ball is traveling. This technology first appeared in international cricket during the Cricket World Cup in England in 1999.