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Annual Report 2002/2003 - Foreword
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Annual Report 2002/2003 Annual Report in PDF format  - 41.2Mb ~
235 min |
| Foreword by dr. Ben Ngubane, the formal Minister of
the Department of Arts,Culture, Science and Technology. Science and Technology in South Africa has been greatly strengthened over the past year. As we near the end of the first decade of democracy, there is a clear recognition in Government that science and technology is essential to the competitiveness of South Africa's economy and the improvement of the lives of our people. This was signalled by the acceptance of the National Research and Development Strategy by Cabinet in July 2002, and the creation of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) on 1 August 2002. This Annual Report captures the important process of restructuring and reconfiguring the programmes of the Department of Science and Technology since its establishment in 2002. It also records the Department's major achievements between April 2002 and March 2003. Our success over this period has been amplified by our strategic involvement in international co-operation. The World Summit on Sustainable Development, in which science and technology moved from the periphery into the mainstream, confirm that developing nations avoid sustained and committed investments in science and technology at their own peril. South Africa hosted the first Ministerial meeting on science and technology for the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in July 2002, and this was followed by proactive engagement of the European Union with a view to achieving a new consensus on the importance of science and technology as an instrument of development. Considerable challenges still face us: more work needs to be done to ensure that young people are attracted to careers in science and technology, and that human capital programmes are strengthened and properly financed. 'Big Science' is good business. During the course of the year we prepared our bid for the planned Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Radio Telescope and Cabinet approved our expression of interest process for what could be the first billion dollar telescope ever built. We have involved the business community, the Science Councils and universities in the discussions around this bid, which will require partnership and innovation - first to attract SKA to South Africa and then to ensure that it can be built cost effectively. Our 'Big Science' activities are complemented by pragmatic initiatives to deal with poverty and its impact on people's lives. We have undertaken a number of projects in the domain of job creation and poverty reduction using established, effective technology platforms. These projects, which range from beekeeping to cattle improvement and paper making, have demonstrated that by combining technology with the entrepreneurial skills of our communities, we can achieve positive outcomes. The South African Aids Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) has made good progress this year in assembling a world class strategy and talented scientists to develop a candidate vaccine which will soon undergo the first stage of clinical trials. These achievements would not be possible without the ongoing commitment of our scientists, engineers and technologists in the public and private sectors. In celebrating the achievements of the Department, and remaining mindful of the challenges that lie ahead, we salute all those who have made a positive difference in our National System of Innovation. In closing, I would like to congratulate Brigitte Mabandla on her appointment as Minister of Housing and thank her for the contribution that she made to science and technology in South Africa during her term as Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology. Dr Ben Ngubane Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology |
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