Commemorating

Programme Director;

His Royal Highness Prince Khuzulwandle of the Swazi Kingdom;

Premier of Limpopo, Hon. Sello Moloto;

Deputy Minister of Public Works, Hon. Ntopile Kganyago;

MEC for Agriculture: Limpopo Provincial Government, Hon. Dikeledi Magadzi;

The Executive Mayor of Greater Sekhukhune District, Hon. Namane Masemola;

Magoši kamoka a NEBO ao a lego mo;

The Mayor of Elias Motswaledi Municipality, Hon Lionel Seloane;

Dingaka kamoka tšeo di lego mo;

Representatives of the Blue Ridge Platinum Mine

Members of the Private Sector present;

Setšhaba sa Kgoši Boleu Rammupudu;

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen

The battle between the Bakgaga Bakopa, led by Kgoši Boleu I, and the Swazi/Boers bears a stark resemblance to the current efforts to the ‘fight’ against science, engineering and technology illiteracy in South Africa. Whereas the said battle was fought using ‘weapons’ geared towards inflicting bodily harm, the fight against science and technology illiteracy requires a different weapon - knowledge.

Important strategies aimed at creating an environment conducive to equipping especially Black people, who were disadvantaged by history, with the knowledge they require to survive in the society we live in include, the Youth into Science Strategy; and the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Policy Framework. 

The former focuses on promoting science and technology literacy, and recruiting our children into Science, Engineering and Technology-based careers. The latter encourages us to value and utilise our tried and tested indigenous knowledge systems to overcome some major socio-economic challenges facing us in the globalising world.

The similarity between the battle of Bakgaga Bakopa and the AmaSwazi/Boers and the ‘fight’ against SET illiteracy lies in the fact that in both cases, people fight to retain their social and economic freedom in order to safeguard theirs and their children’s future.

Black people in Africa as a whole are facing a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they must make sacrifices and work hard to reverse the legacy of an oppressive history, and on the other, they must move with double speed to catch-up and re-adjust their poor economies in order to compete favourably in the cut-throat global economy. Therefore, the most strategic way to ensure quicker and more sustainable success is to invest heavily in our children’s education, and to productively exploit our greatest area of economic strength – our indigenous knowledge which lies mostly in our rich biodiversity.

This commemoration takes place at the beginning of the 2008 National Science Week. At the launch of this annual event at the Potchefstroom Campus of the University of the North West on 8 May 2008, I called upon our youth to take their future into their own hands. The same message is conveyed to the sons and daughters of those who participated in the battle of the Bakgaga Bakopa and the AmaSwazi. 

Whereas the battle of the Bakgaga Bakopa and their adversaries was a contestation for a socio-political space, the fight against SET illiteracy is a competition for knowledge space. Having demonstrated your prowess during the said battle, you are now called upon to lead our people against this onslaught of SET illiteracy. Although I understand there is no science centre or facility in this region of the Limpopo Province, nonetheless, I urge those who might get a chance of visiting either Nelspruit or Polokwane to visit our science centres there. My message for encouraging wide-spread participation in the National Science Week is another way of fighting against the SET illiteracy onslaught. 

It is, therefore, not by chance that one of the thrusts of our science centres, and the National Science Week in particular, is indigenous knowledge systems. In a knowledge-dependent society we live in, the wealth of the nations lies in their ability to harvest the unique knowledge possessed by their citizens, and IKS provides such knowledge base for South Africa.

The adoption by Cabinet of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Policy in 2004 not only signalled a defining moment in the lives of our communities, but also paid homage to our customs and practices by acknowledging the wisdom, courage and commitment of our elders and leaders. The Policy in its entirety endeavours to contribute to the consolidation of our constitutional democracy and the improvement of the lives, dignity and equality of our communities by giving concrete expression to the recognition, promotion, development and protection of indigenous knowledge systems.

As we celebrate the achievements and lives of Kgoši Boleu I and Bakopa, who fought for the values, customs and rights of their people, we also want to express our recognition and support by articulating the milestones covered by my department in ensuring that the sacrifices made by our ancestors are not confined to the margins of our socio-economic practices.

As part of the implementation process of the IKS Policy, the Department established the National Indigenous Knowledge Systems Office (NIKSO) in 2006. Since its inception, the Office has ensured the establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Committee we launched last month. Members of this committee are leaders in their own respective fields, and will be advising government on matters pertinent to IKS. In addition, they will promote consultations between the Department of Science and Technology and local communities.

Indigenous knowledge has a greater role to play in innovation, knowledge production and management. For that reason, in our Ten Year Plan on Innovation for South Africa, we plan, by 2018, to make South Africa one of the top emerging economies in the global pharmaceutical industry by using the nation’s indigenous knowledge and rich biodiversity. Your Majesty, your role as the custodian of indigenous knowledge in your community is critical to the success of this vision.

Our indigenous knowledge and mega-biodiversity are still our main untapped competitive advantages globally. By combining these two with biotechnology, bioinformatics, genomics and other modern scientific fields, we will be able to establish a strong local pharmaceutical industry capable of dealing with Africa’s burden of disease, and providing lasting socio-economic benefits to our people.

We are well aware that the Department’s initiatives will amount to nothing if we do not work with key role players such as the knowledge holders, dingaka and magoši. Traditional leaders have a responsibility to ensure that vital knowledge is not stolen from their communities by those who are motivated by profit. Please encourage your communities to participate in proper government structures to ensure their knowledge earn them due royalties. One of the science councils under my department, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, is leading a Bioprospecting Programme, which interfaces indigenous knowledge with modern science to produce and package products for the local and international markets.

We have already made some successes in this regard, which includes the production of mosquito repelling candle using oil from a plant which was for years used by the people of Limpopo and Mpumalanga to repel mosquitoes from their homes. Today there are projects run by local communities cultivating this plant for commercial processing. This has resulted in the owners of the knowledge earning royalties whilst providing employment to members of their communities. Please feel free to contact my Department for information on how your communities could participate in such commercialisation structures.

To ensure our country successfully meets the ambitious targets of modernising and growing its economy, my Department is also leading several initiatives to attract young people to science-based careers. As leaders and parents, you have a significant role to play in encouraging your children to follow relevant and rewarding careers.

I realise that mining activities in the platinum group metals are already taking place here at Maleoskop. In the precious metals beneficiation processes, my department is spearheading a number of cutting edge research and development initiatives undertaken by our universities and science councils to ensure we derive maximum benefit from our rich mineral deposits. Therefore, I urge you to join us in our campaign to get our learners to take mathematics and science subjects at schools as a way of preparing themselves for the future.

In closing, I wish to take this opportunity to wish Kgoši Boleu II and your people great success as you strive to build a progressive and prosperous community.

Pula! Kgotso! Nala!

Kea Leboga.