This year marks the 30th anniversary of the advent of the South African democracy. Government and its various departments and entities officially celebrated and highlighted the significance of this milestone.
President Cyril Ramaphosa kicked started the celebrations and unveiled the ‘30 Years of Democracy Review Report’ focusing on the major successes that have been recorded by previous governments, particularly under the 6th administration. The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), is one of those entities that shared some of its achievements by focusing on key initiatives it embarked on post 1994.
In this edition, as part of a series of our digital newsletters, we specifically foreground some of the DSI’s ground-breaking science innovations and projects that can be deployed across various critical sectors of government.
Since democracy the DSI has crafted and fine-tuned its policies to ensure its science, technology and innovation (STI) programmes respond to the local needs and realities. More importantly, science and technology should contribute to socio-economic development, environmental sustainability including enhancing government’s capacity to respond to the ravaging impact of climate change. In addition, since its inception, the DSI has forged strong partnerships and strategic links with various global science bodies including Africa.
Some of the notable innovations and flagship programmes of the DSI include:
- National Biotechnology Strategy, which rests on four key areas: Health Innovation, Agricultural Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, and the cross-cutting, Indigenous Knowledge Technology Innovation.
- Square Kilometre Array: Heralded as the globe’s largest radio telescope, this intergovernmental organisation of eight member countries, has seen South Africa becoming a preferred destination for astronomy research. The establishment of the radio telescope will also create major socio-economic developments including job creation, human capital development and technological developments.
- In the health field, the DSI has also leveraged the STI to ensure the healthcare sector benefits the majority and not just a small minority. Some of the novelties introduced include Smartlock safety syringe and the Freeplay foetal heart rate monitor
- Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS): DSI not only pioneered but it also ensures the IKS is mainstreamed to accommodate the previously marginalised knowledge holders.
Undoubtedly, post the apartheid era, the science and technology innovation landscape has changed for the better. The DSI has successfully mainstreamed the sciences and also harnessed them to align with key policy imperatives such as transformation and socio-economic development.
Happy reading!
Ms Buhle Khumalo
