Question NW897 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
24 March 2022 - NW897
Boshoff, Dr WJ to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
(1)What (a) is the justification of his department’s demand that scientists should not comment on the war between Russia and Ukraine and (b) motivated the specified demand; (2) whether the demand is meant for specific institutions and/or is supposed to be binding on all research institutions within the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
There has been no demand from the Department of Science and Innovation that South African scientists should not comment on the conflict in Ukraine. The Department has, however, advised the public entities reporting to the DSI, not to comment on the political aspects of the conflict, as these are matters of foreign policy, and it is the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, which is the competent authority to comment on foreign policy for the South African Government.