Hansard: EPC: Debate on Vote No 34 – Science and Technology
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 22 Jul 2014
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"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"[Take 11] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][ns].doc"
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 11
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Proceedings of extended public committee – committee room e249
----------------
Members of the Extended Public Committee met in Committee Room E249 at 10:00.
The Temporary House Chairperson Ms L M Maseko, as Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.
The TEMPORARY HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms L M Maseko): Just before the Secretary reads the Order, I want to indicate that Rule 46 allows members to converse but not loudly. Rule 47 states that members shouldn't interrupt the member who is speaking, except on a point of order.
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 11
START OF DAY
Appropriation bill
Debate on Vote No 34 – Science and Technology
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister Peters, hon members, today we celebrate 20 years of freedom and positive progress in advancing science and innovation in the science and technology sector. Some of our many successes include advances in research into HIV and Aids prevention and treatment, satellite building, winning the right to co-host the iconic Square Kilometre Array, SKA, discoveries in palaeontology, progress with alternative research technologies, advances in fluorochemicals, and technology for improved service delivery.
Through investing in research and development and innovation, the ANC has made significant contributions to meeting our triple challenges of poverty, inequality and joblessness.
The ANC won the last election on a manifesto that included a commitment to increase investment in research and development to 1,5% of GDP in this term of government. The ANC was the only political party to make such a commitment. This signalled our belief that science and technology will play a prominent role in the radical socioeconomic transformation of South Africa.
We are emboldened by the science and technology objectives outlined in the National Development Plan and believe that the report we will present to you today clearly signals that Vision 2030 is achievable.
Our budget appropriation for 2014-15 is R6,47 billion. The largest portion of our budget, R3,5 billion, is allocated to research and development. Of this, R1,7 billion is to be spent on research grants and bursaries. And in terms of guidelines I have provided, we will focus on the transformation targets over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period. These will be overseen by the National Research Foundation, NRF, which will lead to increasing: The ratio of black to total researchers, from 28% in 2013-14 to 40% in 2016-17; the ratio of female to total researchers, from 36% in 2013-14 to 50% in 2016-17; the ratio of black to total graduate students funded, from 63% in 2013-14 to 71% in 2016-17; the ratio of female to total postgraduate students funded, from 53% in 2013-14 to 55% in 2016-17.
The NDP sets a target of 100 000 PhDs by 2030 to improve research and innovation capacity in our country. In order to reach this target we need to train 6 000 PhDs per annum. We now produce just over 1 800 PhDs per year. To train 6 000 a year will cost us an additional R5,8 billion. We hope hon members will monitor that government makes these resources available to us so that we meet the objectives of the NDP.
However, our problem is that we lack research-supervision capacity and the doctoral-student pipeline is far too narrow. We need to support researchers who are capable of supervising postgraduate students, and to create incentives for students to remain in the system up to doctoral level. We have recently begun investing in emerging researchers through postdoctoral fellowships through the Thuthuka Programme, and research career advancement fellowships.
In order to attract young people to science, we will invest R497 million over the next three years in implementing a co-ordinated approach to science education, science awareness and science communication. The programmes run through the SA Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, Saasta, with an intention to reach about 350 000 learners and about 13 000 teachers per annum. Our recent review of the NRF indicated the need to reconsider the location and the funding model for Saasta. We need a model that will allow Saasta to scale-up public engagement and science awareness activities. And we will announce our approach in this regard very soon.
We also have an internship programme which has supported youth development and employment. Between 2012 and 2014, 1 341 unemployed graduates were exposed to work opportunities in science, engineering and technology institutions. Of these1 341, 58% were absorbed into permanent employment in the same institutions. Others have found employment in other science institutions. The department has allocated in this financial year R80 million to fund 1 000 science postgraduates in the internship programme. [Applause.]
The South African Research Chairs Initiative, SARChI, one of the department's flagship programmes, has a total of 157 awarded chairs, 128 of which have been filled. Of these, 73% were recruited in South Africa, 21% are women and 28% are blacks. We intend to create an additional 20 research chairs. The initiative has contributed to the transformation of the system by increasing the number of black and female researchers. Since its inception, the number of black postgraduate students has increased by 400% and the number of female postgraduate students by 450%. [Applause.] This year, we intend to spend R451 million on the SARChI chairs.
We have established centres of excellence to promote inter-disciplinary collaboration in research excellence. There are now 14 centres, and investment in them has increased at an average of 20% a year since 2010-11. We are exploring a further three centres: one in HIV/Aids research, and another in human settlements research and water research. All of these will be established in collaboration with the relevant government departments, and we are very excited about this emerging partnership. [Applause.]
We have also established centres of excellence to promote inter disciplinary collaboration in research excellence. For example, I refer here to the SA Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, Sacema. It focuses on research in quantitative modelling of disease, with a strong focus on relevance to public health policy. The policy to circumcise men to reduce the HIV-infections was a consequence of a Sacema research project.
The Centre of Excellence on TB pioneered the use of molecular methods to characterise Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, and these techniques are now used throughout Africa to gain insight into the mechanisms driving the epidemic. There are now 14 centres, and investment in them that has been substantial.
To enable our country to compete globally, in science, technology and innovation, it is important to provide world-class infrastructure for research and development. One of these world-class institutions is iThemba LABS. IThemba LABS is the only facility on the African continent that provides accelerator-based radioisotopes for nuclear medicine, and also the only facility in Africa for specialist cancer treatment using protons and neutrons. This treatment is offered to those who have cancers that do not respond to traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. [Applause.] Patients referred by state hospitals are treated free of charge, and over the past 25 years some 1 800 patients have been treated.
We also, in terms of infrastructure, continue to make progress on the MeerKAT project, for which R647 million is allocated in this financial year, as well as building global partnerships for the SKA. We are preparing for the huge amounts of data that will be produced by the MeerKAT and the SKA. This will allow us to play a leading role in `big data'. [Applause.] Welcome, Minister Hanekom. [Laughter.] We believe South Africa can become a global leader in this area of `big data' management if we make the right interventions now.
I am pleased to announce that many students have been awarded grants through the SKA scholarship programme. The success rate of the programme has been very high, with 36 doctoral degrees, 95 master's degrees, 59 honours degrees, 58 BSc and BEng degrees and 16 national diplomas awarded to scholarship recipients. [Applause.] I am also pleased that the SKA is supporting the training of artisans, and has awarded 42 bursaries to students from the Karoo, 16 of whom are already employed by SKA South Africa, after completing their training.
The global SKA project is growing. India is expected to become a full member of the SKA Organisation soon, joining an alliance of countries that are currently investing close to R2 billion in design and other preparatory work. Our partners in Australia, Canada, China, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom are all firmly committed to the SKA. And we will be working hard to bring in other global partners.
Compared to other large-scale research infrastructure projects of its kind, the progress of the SKA is remarkable – and I know Minister Hanekom will agree. This is, of course, in no small measure due to South African leadership on this project and know-how that has been built in this country. I think Dr Bernie Fanaroff and Prof Jonas and their team continue to do us proud, and should be congratulated on this. [Applause.]
We are also working hard to make real the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network, AVN. We are rolling it out and will involve our eight SKA African partner countries. Through the AVN programme, SKA South Africa, in partnership with the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, HartRAO, has also trained scientists and engineers from Ghana and Kenya, 13 of whom have spent six months to a year in South Africa. The AVN programme will continue to assist them with further training in their home countries, and will help them to train more technicians and scientists in their home countries.
Our astronomy partnerships have extended to partnerships with China, India, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States of America. We have been very pleased to welcome leading global astronomers, such as Prof Russ Taylor, to our country, who are taking up positions under the SA Research Chairs Programme, attracted by South Africa's commitment to and investment in science. We are becoming a preferred destination not only for global research infrastructure but also for global research talent.
Our National Space Agency receives R118 million this year. It provides valuable earth observation data to enable informed decisions by government departments and public entities.
The SA National Space Agency continues to provide state-of-the-art ground station services to many globally recognised space missions, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Nasa, the Indian Space Research Organisation Mars missions, and Nasa's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2, which is giving scientists a better idea of how carbon is contributing to climate change, answering important questions about precisely where carbon is coming from and where it is stored.
We have reorganised the programmes within the department to give greater emphasis to technology. There had always been concerns that we are doing more science investment and very little technology investment although we are the Department of Science and Technology. We have now reordered ourselves, and we have a programme called Technology Innovation which this year has a budget of R991 million. Its main agency is the Technology Innovation Agency, Tia.
We aim to reposition Tia as an agency whose funding instruments will enable entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises to commercialise their technology innovations. Since 2010 Tia has disbursed a total of R1,2 billion on project contracts and grants. The agency has supported close to 6 838 small and medium enterprises in accelerating technical innovation through technology development at a cost of R286 million. The services provided by Tia have enabled the enterprises to be more competitive and productive. We have also funded through Tia the placement of 501 interns in various sectors, including at offices of technology transfer and in venture capital companies.
A few examples illustrate Tia's contribution to innovation. Through Tia we have supported Future Fynbos, a company that focuses on the selection and breeding of indigenous Fynbos. It has shipped its first commercial harvest, with 600 355 units sold in the local market and 10 000 units in the European Union. The Technology Innovation Agency also made a significant contribution to the University of Cape Town's H3-D Centre, which is Africa's first modern integrated drug discovery and development centre, and has over the past four years had remarkable success, delivering the first clinical drug candidate to come from Africa.
Additional funding of R55 million was leveraged from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support tuberculosis and malaria drug development programmes. The centre also received over R5 million from the Wolfson Foundation towards infrastructure improvement.
I would like today to congratulate another technologist, Marlize Holtzhausen, who I believe is in the gallery. Her Rapid Response cellphone app won the internationally renowned 2014 Googlefest pitching competition for technology entrepreneurs – there she is. [Applause.] Her participation in this contest was supported under the Swiss-South Africa Business Development Programme, an example of our thriving portfolio of international partnerships. And I thank our Swiss partners for their support in this successful initiative. Other finalists from South Africa who were in the top five were Drew van der Riet, working on advanced prosthetics – whom I met this morning, and Gavin Jones, representing the University of Cape Town project on the rehabilitation of stroke patients.
Our support for research and development work in clean coal technologies through the carbon capture and storage chair at the SA National Energy Development Institute, Minister Peters, is bearing fruit. The CoalgaeTM initiative, part of the DST-funded biofuels programme at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University will, in this financial year, look to find partners to upscale the semi-commercial pilot plant and also to find potential investors for the commercialisation of this technology. Welcome, Minister Sisulu. [Laughter.]
Another success is the Photovoltaic Technology Intellectual Property, PTIP, a solar energy spin-off company from the University of Johannesburg, which was started in 2013, with the successful leadership of Minister Hanekom. Photovoltaic Technology Intellectual Property is in collaboration with a German listed company, Singulus. They manufacture photovoltaic thin films, and they are one of the very few global companies that are using copper indium gallium selenide. Hon members, in science you have to learn to pronounce! The DST is working closely with private sector partners to ensure the full commercialisation of the plant and the creation of jobs for the human capital being developed in various institutions. This will be a huge contribution to government's mandate of tackling poverty, inequality and joblessness.
As hon members can see, South Africa through the DST is fast becoming a preferred partner for research and innovation funding partnerships with international foundations. I believe that more funding should be available to the Technology Innovation Agency to fund commercialisation, as we do not as yet have a dynamic risk-taking venture capital culture in South Africa. We are grateful to all our partners for the support that they give to our scientists and technologists.
In 2012, hon members may recall, we announced the launch of the DST -Technology Top 100 internship programme, aimed at placing unemployed science, technology and engineering graduates in high-level technology companies. I am happy to report that the programme has over the past two years had an intake of 105 interns and that 25% of these interns have found permanent employment with their host companies at the end of the one-year programme, and a further number has found opportunities elsewhere. [Applause.] This year a further 65 candidates have been placed with companies in Gauteng and the Western Cape. We intend to grow the network of private sector companies interested in assisting us. These are postgraduate science and engineering students who could not find any opportunities in South Africa and we have supported them to do so.
Our Socioeconomic Innovation Partnerships Programme receives a budget of R1,5 billion this year. Of this, the Human Sciences Research Council, HSRC, receives R276 million and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, receives R826 million. The CSIR is the biggest, Dr Sibisi, and the best-resourced science laboratory complex in the country. It accounts for 15% of government expenditure on research and development.
Recently the CSIR adopted water sustainability, and safety and security as areas of integrated research and innovation. These join their six already established research impact fields of industry, built environment, health, natural environment, defence and security, and energy. The HSRC continues to improve on its reputation as a public entity providing excellent social science research in a range of fields from reducing poverty to improving education, from improving gender relations to fighting HIV and Aids.
Our International Co-operation and Resources Programme receives R119 million, which is just not enough, to promote relationships with global partners, leverage foreign investment in South African science and technology, afford training opportunities for our researchers abroad, and enable co-operation to allow us to share in international experience and expertise.
In the 2013-14 financial year, through science diplomacy and smart co-investments, we were able to leverage and secure R253 million in addition to our own budget in science, technology and innovation funds from international partners. This included a substantial partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the health, water and sanitation domains, and a dedicated programme with the European Union harnessing innovation for poverty alleviation. I hope hon members will visit our exhibition in the gardens and have a look at some of the work this investment is doing.
In the next five years, we intend to prioritise support, through co-operation with international partners, for science, technology and innovation capacity-building on the African continent. African heads of state have adopted an ambitious continental framework, for science, technology and innovation in Africa. And we wish to be at the forefront of implementing this strategy.
We will step up our efforts to make South Africa a preferred destination for foreign investment in science, technology and innovation. We would like to encourage international companies to locate their research and development facilities in South Africa. General Electric, for example, recently announced a R500 million investment in a customer innovation centre to be built in Gauteng, which will assist in developing the company's global technology platforms for local market needs, and a further R200 million to support South African small and medium enterprises, notably through technology transfer.
In closing, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my very new and wonderful Deputy Minister Magwaza-Msibi ... [Applause.] ... and thank her for her support and comradeship. I also thank Dr Phil Mjwara, our Director-General of Science and Technology, who must be one of the longest-serving directors-general in the country. I thank the staff, all the deputy directors-general, directors and chief directors for their hard work and commitment to making a difference in addressing poverty, inequality and unemployment. Thanks also to my staff in the Ministry for their hard work and support. This includes Carmen, Rob and everybody else.
Likewise, I thank the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology for all they have done and wish them well in their work in this new five-year term. I also wish to thank my family, who are present with us today, for their support and understanding. [Applause.]
As the Department of Science and Technology, we conclude by saying that we remain committed to taking South Africa forward by using science, technology and innovation for socioeconomic growth and transformation. I thank you. [Applause.]
Dr M B Goqwana
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 12
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,01 Aug 2014,"Take 12 [Committee Room E249 Main].doc"
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"[Take-12] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][ns].doc"
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Dr M B GOQWANA: Chairperson, the Ministers that are here, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, the department led by Mr Mjwara, ladies and gentlemen, I was asked to go and see the exhibition centre in the botanical gardens. It is very surprising. I would repeat what the Minister has said - that people should go there.
My speech is going to be slanting towards removing the myth of thinking that science is a difficult subject or a difficult department to deal with.
Chairperson, I owe my being to the valleys and hills of Cingco, springs and rivers of Nomthambo. This is where I came to be told. . .
IsiXhosa:
Umlungu omdala wafaka intlanzi etotini ivaliwe. [Kwahlekwa.]
English:
This is where I was told a person who is suffering from severe haemoptysis from tuberculosis has been bewitched. This is where my origins are from. This is where I learned and started to ask myself hard questions as to why and how. Little did I know that whys and hows were the gateway to science and technology.
Life is dynamic. The dynamism of life is dependent on human capital. Human capital transforms and improves our economy when they know science and technology and they are innovative. The more investment is made on human capital, the more scientists will be produced; the more scientists, the more innovation; the more innovations, the more there will be a positive impact on the economy of the country, and the better the lives of our people.
As a country we can have internal innovation which will better the spinoffs for the country compared to when exported. If we do not develop our human capital to be innovative, we will depend on external innovators with no noticeable spinoffs for the economy and development of our country. I'm trying to illustrate the importance of science and technology and human capital for our country.
Thus far the investment by South Africa in developing scientists has been asymmetrical. People living in rural areas and peri-urban areas do not get the same exposure to science and technology as urban dwellers, with the result that there is minimal if any contribution to science and technology from those areas.
I congratulate the Minister and her deputy on being appointed to lead this Department of Science and Technology. Minister Pandor, it is evident that you are passionate about your department. Your display of this kind of passion makes things happen even with a scarcity of resources. Were it not for this passion the department may not move forward. I'm sure we know, all of us, that you might have resources but if you don't have passion, nothing will happen. You might not have resources but if you've got passion, things might happen. We have not yet met with the entities that take up 92% of your budget, a budget of just above R7 billion, but we have met with the officials led by Dr Mjwara of your department who have given us their plans for the current year. As the ANC we accept this budget.
For the future we are looking at the department being awarded a budget of at least 1, 5% of the gross domestic product, GDP, because we want more internal innovation than external innovation. We would like to see the country transformed to be symmetrical in the production of science and technology graduates; that will bring innovation.
The vision of the ANC government to put science and technology at the forefront of developing this country was manifested when a mere directorate was transformed to a present Department of Science and Technology. The ANC government did this understanding how science and technology is central and transversal in transforming the lives of our people. Well done, ANC! There is no better transformation of the country without science and technology and innovations. [Applause.]
South Africa has got the Square Kilometre Array, SKA, which puts us on the global map. Interestingly, when I went to the botanical gardens, I was told that the SA National Space Agency, Sansa, is looking at the world from outside. The SKA is looking at the world from the earth towards it. What I found there was very interesting. This has not only improved the lives of people in the Northern Cape, but the innovation and development has made people see science and technology as a subject that they can interrogate and understand.
We have also seen other pilot projects such as the one in Cofimvaba with all the enthusiasm shown by learners, teachers and the community. Equal appreciation goes to the organisation of the science week usually held in Grahamstown on an annual basis. We have seen indigenous knowledge being brought to the fore by this department in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and so forth with the centres of excellence.
As the department moves forward they should also work on a strategy of how they will handle existing industries in the field of science and technology that might not welcome the emergence of new innovation and see it as competition that threatens their monopoly in those industries. They should help them not to see emerging innovators as a threat but as an opportunity for working in collaboration to better the lives of people and the country as a whole.
In the short period of time that the Department of Science and Technology has been in existence, we have seen the number of doctoral graduates in the science field increasing to include even graduates from rural areas. We would like to see the number of scientists from rural and peri-urban areas increase to make the transformation more symmetrical. I must confess, Minister, that I think there are members in the committee, especially those coming from rural areas, who have said they want to do doctoral degrees with the funding that is going to come from Mr Mjwara. They are Members of Parliament. [Laughter.] So, in five years, we will have more doctors coming from the portfolio committee.
There is a lot that has already been done by the department, but the road ahead is still very long. This does not come as a surprise when you consider that the ANC government has been in existence for only 20 years, which cannot be compared to the 300 years that people were being starved of information just because God gave them a higher concentration of melanin in their skin.
As we will be doing oversight work, interacting with the communities, and transforming the laws, where necessary, as a committee, we accept and support this budget. The perception most people have about science is that it is difficult and complicated, and I want to expel this myth and ask that people regard it differently.
If you can ask ``Why?'' and ``How?'', you can see that it is not difficult to understand. Being able to say ``Why?'' and ``How?'' is a gateway to science and technology and innovation.
Universities will be monitored by the committee not only to check whether they are maintaining and raising the standards but are also to produce more scientists with the funding available to them or even argue for more funding if necessary.
Since the department is transversal in its functions, there might be competition, even overlap of projects, with other departments that can cause success and achievement to stall and hinder progress, resulting in delays in transformation. Good intergovernmental working relations will help a lot to facilitate this progress.
We have not done much in promoting indigenous knowledge, especially the knowledge coming from rural and peri-urban areas, classified unsuitably as ``traditional knowledge''. I always ask myself whether this term ``traditional'', while not derogatory, makes one feel inferior? I want to compare a situation: My king is called a traditional leader but if you go to Britain, the Queen is not called a traditional leader. She is called a monarch. Now, isn't it time for that term to be changed to something else? I think it is something that we need to debate - whether we should call ourselves traditional leaders, or talk about traditional medicines, traditional this and traditional that whereas in other areas they are not called that. It is only those who colonised us that called us traditional.
It is necessary and urgent to investigate and assess that indigenous knowledge submitted is safe to use and presents no threat to the environment and security of our country. New innovations must do no harm. Existing industries should not be threatened and must not be allowed to block the emergence of newcomers because the scope of science and technology is too wide. People can work together for the betterment of the country. I emphasise that new innovations, including indigenous knowledge, should do no harm.
It is unacceptable that there are people who engage in ritual killings because they are looking for solutions to problems. When people begin to ask the ``Why?'' and ``How?'' questions, they would not be misled into committing acts of crime. I know where I come from. As I mentioned, when I was young, there was an old man who was called Xesibe. He was highly respected, but then saliva started drooling from his mouth; he started shaking and it was difficult for him to walk and talk, but all was well with his mind. He was brilliant. A lot of people were killed because it was said that he was bewitched. When I became older and started to work in my profession, it was very easy to ask questions and understand that that person had had Parkinson disease, which is something that can be controlled and nobody needed to be killed because of the condition that they had developed. These are the myths that probably we need to bring to the fore.
It is obvious that in developed and developing countries, science is the cornerstone of innovation, knowledge, an economic booster and developer of human capital. Scientists need to be passionate, objective, honest and neutral. They need to protect us from evil, work with unbiased humility. Humility is defined as being somebody who will make sure that they become patient when they've got nothing and have a good attitude when they have got it all and must understand that many people of the country still have a lot to learn.
The country belongs to future generations. As you work tirelessly in the department to advance science and technology, be aware that you are growing trees in whose shade you will never sit. Let's develop science not to destroy our Continent, for it belongs to the future generations.
On behalf of the ANC, we accept and support the budget. I want to thank the new committee members for their enthusiasm. The questions that they ask show that they understand how important science and technology is. We must thank your department, Minister, for helping us and making sure that we've got all the information that we need. However, we haven't met the entities which are many and they are taking the biggest part of this budget. We are looking forward to a situation where we are going to have a meeting there, especially with the big one that gets the biggest amount of money this year. [Laughter.] Thank you very much. [Applause.]
THE TEMPORARY HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms L M Maseko): Hon Lotriet, as you come to the podium, I just want to say to the public in the gallery that you are not supposed to participate, so don't clap. Sorry about that.
Dr. A LOTRIET"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,01 Sep 2014,"Take 13 [Committee Room E249 Main].doc""Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"[Take-13] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][ns].doc"
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 13
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms L M MASEKO)
Dr A LOTRIET: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, the National Development Plan, NDP, states that science and technology are key to development, because technological and scientific revolutions underpin economic advances, improvements in health systems, education and infrastructure.
It is thus reassuring, Minister, that following your appointment and also today, you made it clear that you and your department are committed to the National Development Plan. This is an important commitment as the NDP explicitly views science and technology as one of the key drivers of change.
The NDP states that science and technology are the differentiators between countries that are able to tackle poverty effectively by growing and developing their economies and those that are not. This is of crucial importance to our country. It further indicates that the extent to which developing economies emerge as economic powerhouses depends on their ability to grasp and apply insights from science and technology and use them creatively.
Innovation is the primary driver of technological growth and drives higher living standards.
So, Minister, if one takes your commitment to the NDP, as well as the successes of your department which you have mentioned this morning - and we have to congratulate you on that - the impression is that all is well in the world of science and technology in South Africa.
However, Minister, the sad reality is that science and technology does not seem to be a very important portfolio according to the government, and not an important portfolio to give effect to the NDP. And I say this because we can look at, for example, the consolidated spending by functional and economic classification of the 2014 Budget.
The Departments of Science and Technology and Environmental Affairs are afforded the second smallest cut of the budget, with the third smallest receiving more than triple the amount.
If we look at what countries spend on research and development, we see that the global average is 1,77% of the gross domestic product, GDP. The average for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, countries is in the range of 2,4%.
Countries such as South Korea spend in the region of 4% of their GDP. Of our Brics partners, Russia spends 1,16% , China, 1,77%, and Brazil, 1,16%. Unfortunately our country's spend is still below 1%. It stood at 0,76% in the 2010-11 financial year, down from 0,87% in the previous year, and year after year it seems that reaching the 1% - and you alluded to 1,5%, Minister - is becoming more and more elusive.
The expenditure on research and development, R&D, as a percentage is critical to economic growth. According to estimates by the OECD, a 1% increase in the ratio of R&D investments to GDP raises economic activity by 1,2%.
The challenge to give effect to the role that science and technology should and can play in the country's growth is further compromised by the number of factors as can be seen from a comparative analysis done by the OECD.
South Africa is below and, in certain instances, far below, the OECD median in terms of public and business expenditure on R&D. Our ranking in the top 500 universities, trademarks, ease of entrepreneurship, availability of broadband networks, e-government readiness, patents filed by universities and public labs, international co-authorship and co-patenting, adult population at tertiary education level and doctorates in science and technology do not augur well for the future development of science and technology.
From this, one can only conclude that this department is undervalued and underfunded, and this is even more worrying in the context of the level of irregular spending and waste in other departments. Without substantial growth in science and technology research and application, very few, if any, of the goals of the National Development Plan can be achieved.
Although it is extremely important that policies focus on the development of professional human resource capacity - as you have indicated, Minister - policies and strategies focused on innovation management and the execution and application of innovation must not be neglected. This is where innovation and design translate into job creation.
A prime example in this regard is that of South Korea. I have indicated that they spend 4% of their GDP on R&D and they have focused their efforts on innovation and product development. This resulted in the country moving from the 5th poorest country in the world in 1960 to the 11th wealthiest today, and it has an unemployment figure of 2,9%.
It is important that the downward trend of expenditure on R&D be halted. In this regard, the recommendations related to financing the National System of Innovation, NSI, contained in the Ministerial Review are of importance. Every effort should be made to increase public and business expenditure on research and development.
However, if one looks at recommendation 40, which states that the potential of local firms, higher education institutions and science councils to recruit high-level staff from other countries should be facilitated and optimised through appropriate legislation and regulation, it is clear that the latest immigration regulations issued by this government will have the exact opposite effect. Minister, this is a matter that you should perhaps take up with the Minister of Home Affairs, if we want to attract high-level skills to this country.
Given the importance of innovation for the economic growth of the country, it is worrying that the entity that should be the pivot in the process has been beset with problems. And I am referring to the Technology Innovation Agency, Tia, here.
Minister, we welcome the swift actions taken, following the findings of the forensic investigation. And although it is hoped that the dismissal of the chief executive officer, CEO, and the chief financial officer, CFO, will go some way in solving the problems at the Tia, there are still many problems that were highlighted in the review of the entity. One of these is the different views on what the actual mandate of the agency is and this should be addressed as a matter of urgency.
It is also important that the portfolio committee be informed of the progress of or any problems at the agency. It is therefore unfortunate that, in a reply to a parliamentary question earlier this year, the Minister then indicated that there were no plans to present the forensic report on Tia to Parliament.
Despite the problems experienced by Tia - and you also alluded to how extremely important Tia will be - it is worrying that the department will reduce expenditure on transfers and subsidies to the agency. Transfers to the agency are projected to decrease by R30 million in the 2014-15 financial year and R50 million in the following years. Given the goal of Tia to use South Africa's science and technology base to develop new industries, create sustainable jobs and help diversify the economy, cuts in its budget are not what the country needs now.
An aspect that I also found quite surprising is that there is no real system or process of tracking the actual results of the investment the department makes. I am not referring to, for example, the number of patents or published articles or number of students, but whether any funded patents lead to job creation or determining whether it had any impact on society by creating jobs, alleviating poverty, and improving living conditions.
The same goes for tracking postgraduate students who have benefited from bursaries and grants. Where are these students working except for the internships that you referred to, or are they making a contribution to the science, technology and innovation sector? Are they, in fact, still in the country?
When I asked this question in a portfolio committee meeting, I was informed by the department that they are now looking at developing such tracking instruments, which is of course welcomed, but why is it only happening now? After 20 years, we are not quite sure what the exact return on our science and technology investment is.
The following are a few aspects that the DA would like to propose that one could focus on in science and technology to grow the economy and create jobs: Focus must be on an innovation and design system that turns ideas into marketable products, services and process improvements; there must be greater co-ordination between entities, and maybe one should consider merging the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Department of Science and Technology because there are so many points of co-operation there; also establishing a national council on research and innovation to take responsibility for major funding allocations and to also create greater co-operation; simplify the funding landscape for research-driven innovation; and establish a more flexible system of immigration.
Minister, in conclusion, you have a department that performs well. There are many success stories, wonderful achievements and world-class scientists and researchers. We can indeed be proud of what we have achieved in the field of science and technology.
The big challenge now is to move this department from being undervalued and underfunded, to being funded, acknowledged and valued as the vanguard of the NDP, the catalyst in making us an economic powerhouse and, importantly, as the key driver in moving from poverty to prosperity. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr N P KHOZA"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,18 Sep 2014,"Take 14 [Committee Room E249 Main].doc"
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 14
Dr A LOTRIET
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"[Take-14] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][ns].doc"
Mr N P KHOZA: Hon Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister, not much is really being done in South Africa involving ordinary people as far as technology is concerned. There is no strategic focus on the side of the department to empower ordinary people on the ground as well as women and youth.
What the department is failing to do is to expand the infrastructure in terms of technological access to the previously disadvantaged people of our country. The previously disadvantaged people of South Africa should have access to WiFi, especially in the rural areas, to really give them opportunities in terms of making their lives easy.
A lot of money is spent on leased infrastructure like Cisco routers, costing millions of rands. We need a roll out of microwave wireless technology which is cost-effective and efficient. From a disaster risk management and business continuity perspective, the business and government have succumbed to and accepted the risk of relying solely on the Telkom terrestrial infrastructure.
What would happen if Telkom were to be attacked? The entire country would fall to its knees. We need a wireless satellite redundant line for the country, in particular the crucial infrastructure to be defined in terms of the due infrastructure Bill.
There is a serious need to establish the institute of science and technology for the benefit of our people in terms of expanding their accessibility to the technological world. It is really worrying that science and technology is not really practical in terms of imparting practical knowledge that is sustainable into the future.
At the moment there is too much reliance on textbooks and there are no laboratories and technological devices in schools to give learners skill and capacity on the usage of these tools. This, we believe, has the potential to make their lives easier. It is not possible that someone can read about a driver's license and after reading it you expect him to be able to drive a car without being taught how to drive a car.
There is a serious need for practical involvement with technology, and this is not happening at the moment. The Department of Science and Technology is not providing our people with opportunities and platforms to engage practically with technology. There are many young people out there who are innovative in terms of technology, with social networks, but they are not getting support from the department.
A typical example is that of Stuart Nhlathi from Klerksdorp who, from the age of 13, has been encouraging young South Africans to participate in the development of science and technology in South Africa. He started the Stuart Nhlathi science, engineering and technology institute where his innovations have impacted positively on the lives of our people. We need such people.
There are no proper support structures from the side of the department to assist these young people to progress even further. The fact of the matter is that the department is not accessible to the people of South Africa on the ground. Our view as the EFF is that technology should be about ordinary people. The department should expand the utilisation of technology as a means of teaching. The Free State province has the highest matric pass rate in the country precisely because of the pilot programme that it started with the University of the Free State of utilising technology, as a way of teaching science and technology.
The department must co-ordinate industrial processes of technological goods and services. We need to develop local capacity to produce technological goods like televisions and cellular phones. Innovations should be taken seriously by the department, because we cannot buy electronic devices from all over the world when our people have the capacity to produce such things. The reason why Samsung is successful is precisely because of the support that it was given by the South Korean government.
As the EFF we propose the following: technology should be on the ground to be accessible, especially to the people in rural areas. There is an urgent need for the support of innovative young people and women in areas of science and technology. We should build more science and technology institutes to expand on the skill and knowledge and build local capacity for the production of technological goods and services. We need a wireless satellite, as I said earlier on. We need a wireless satellite redundant line for the country in particular, the crucial infrastructure to be defined in terms of the due crucial Infrastructure Bill.
An HON MEMBER: Are you supporting the budget?
Mr N P KHOZA: It is for the reasons that I have mentioned that, as the EFF, we are not supporting the budget. Thank you. [Laughter.]
Mr N M KHUBISA
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 14
Mr N P KHOZA
Mr N M KHUBISA: Chairperson, I do not want to sink into the hype of not supporting the budget. Hon Minister, Deputy Minister and hon members, the NFP welcomes and supports Budget Vote 34.
The NFP acknowledges the fact that this budget, like the previous one, is premised on the 1996 White Paper on Science and Technology and the National Development Plan, NDP. The NDP considers science, technology and innovation to be key aspects of the South African development agenda. The budget is based on a strong paradigm shift from just an emphasis on science and technology or mathematics to science, technology and innovation.
The NFP subscribes to the notion that science and technology is crucial to equitable economic growth because advances in these fields underpin economic advances and improvements in education, health systems and all infrastructure. Science and technology should advance the standard of life, not assist humankind to produce weapons of mass distraction as being used in Gaza.
The country and the world is still mourning the death of scientists and researchers including our South African pilot who died when a flight was shot down in the Ukraine, but the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza is abominable and despicable. The NFP calls upon Israel to allow peace a chance so that we negotiate towards a settlement that will bring about peace.
The NFP wants to reiterate a major basic and crucial fact which is that we must inculcate science and technology into children when they are still young. Start at the preschool stage. The curriculum should embrace science and technology, maths and engineering and all forms of innovative systems including but not limited to computer technology. This gives our children a chance to be creators of knowledge. We therefore call for a well co-ordinated strategy between this department and the Department of Basic Education.
Investment in centres of excellence is therefore a welcome exercise and the NFP is of the opinion that we can still do more and improve and increase the number of graduates and students in departmental funded work preparation programmes in scientific engineering and technological institutions over the medium term. Let us therefore do more than placing about 1000 graduates in departmental funded work programmes. We can do more, hon Minister. We still have a chance.
Therefore, the NFP will support this budget. We believe that together we can still do more and work hard to place technology at the local level. Thank you. [Applause.]
IsiZulu
Niyeke-ke ukumemeza ngoba nisala kanjalo.
THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,01 Aug 2014,"Take 15 [Committee Room E249 Main].doc"
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"[Take-15] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][ns].doc"
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 15
Mr N M KHUBISA
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Chairperson, the Minister of the Department of Science and Technology, hon Pandor; Ministers who are here with us; Members of Parliament; ladies and gentlemen, especially Dr Phil Mjwara and all the staff members from the department, I would like to echo Minister Pandor's assertion about the importance of science and technology in realising the goals of the National Development Plan. The NDP proposes some broad focus areas for the national system of innovation and its actors, including the use of knowledge and innovative products to compete in international trade. Obviously, innovation should also improve the existing industries and help new industries to lower the cost of doing business in the private sector.
The department and its entities had a number of successes in the 2013-14 financial year. The National Recordal System for indigenous knowledge systems was launched in Moruleng in the North West, and the first international conference on Indigenous Knowledge Systems, IKS, held in Gauteng. Between 2009 and 2010, more than R30 million was invested in supporting 25 applied IKS research projects. The two IKS research chairs supported 12 PhDs, 31 Master's degrees and 40 honours degrees. [Applause.]
Through the Information and Communication Technology for Rural Education and Development project, 700 tablets and mobikits were handed out this year to learners, teachers and district officials in about 12 schools. It is anticipated that a further 2 440 tablets will be handed out again this year. [Applause.]
The Wireless Mesh Network initiative was extended to schools in the Northern Cape through the SA National Research Network. A total of 173 research and educational sites have been connected with high-speed broadband, ranging from a minimum of one to a maximum of ten gigabytes per second. The Bio-economy Strategy was launched and its implementation plan will be finalised this year.
We also celebrated the 75th anniversary of the discovery of the coelacanth off the coast of South Africa. This major scientific discovery remains a wonderful story of chance, dedication, and the geographic advantage of the country and a great depth of scientific knowledge.
Development knowledge is at the root of a country's innovation system. As we move South Africa forward towards a knowledge economy, we should be mindful that research is no longer performed solely within the walls of large institutions or corporations. Collaboration is a new and important source of competitive advantage. Interactions between diverse actors have increased the possibility of research outcomes that are more relevant to the users of that knowledge.
It is therefore important that our scientists and researchers continue to collaborate with their counterparts all over the world. Science, after all, is an international enterprise. We need to ensure that science, technology and innovation contribute to socioeconomic development in line with the call by the President for the radical transformation of South Africa, addressing the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
To move the country towards a knowledge economy, we need to invest massively in research infrastructure and human capital development, transforming science, technology and innovation so that historically disadvantaged communities become active participants in the sector. Our Minister is very passionate about this.
The presence of the SA Astronomical Observatory, SAAO, in the Karoo town of Sutherland has benefited the area enormously in terms of science, tourism and education. The observatory supports the local community through the teaching of mathematics and science at secondary school level. A fully equipped community centre built two years ago is used to teach learners and adults computer literacy. Global infrastructure like the SAAO, together with the MeerKAT and the Square Kilometre Array, are also making a meaningful contribution to science tourism.
The SAAO also hosts the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development. Linked to astronomy, the Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Department of Public Enterprises, the state-owned company, Broadband Infraco, has invested more than R600 million in the acquisition of broadband capacity on the West Africa Cable System. This will support the work of the MeerKAT and the SKA to retain South Africa's well recognised global status in the field of space and astronomy. [Applause.]
In the 2014-15 financial year, more than 200 sites across the country will be connected to international research networks hosting over 3 000 research and education institutions all over the world. Currently, there are close to 1 million users of the SA National Research Network, Sanren, daily. By the end of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period, the DST will have invested about R600 million on the acquisition of additional international broadband connectivity. I think that answers hon member from the EFF.
In the MTEF period, the DST will establish a National Integrated Cyber Infrastructure System to put in place the best operational, management and governance structure and the most sustainable business model. Our continued investment in the Centre for High Performance Computing, CHPC, is yielding positive results with regard to human capital development in the area of scarce skills. The CHPC has more than 500 users and has twice been listed among the top 500 super computers in the world.
South African students won the international supercomputing conference in Germany last year and this year. The CHPC has been accredited as a member of the international SKA Science Data Processing Consortium, demonstrating the centre's footprint in the international community and recognising the country's capability to participate in international projects. I am trying to answer the chairperson of the portfolio committee.
The AU recognises the essential nature of African knowledge systems in the holistic development of the continent and South Africa actively supports the preservation, protection and development of Indigenous Knowledge Systems. The country has more than 300 000 traditional health practitioners, and there are approximately 5 000 medicinal plant species on the African continent, as well as many different minerals, animals, reptiles and insects with potential health or economic benefits.
South Africa has the modern scientific innovation capacity to develop African traditional medicines and, with the traditional healing sector estimated to be worth $4 billion, it is important that government ensure the use of South Africa's biodiversity to address poverty, inequality and unemployment. Both the Technology Innovation Agency and the SA Bureau of Standards are contributing towards the modernisation and commercialisation of African traditional medicines.
The DST is in the process of facilitating commercialisation agreements on nutraceutical candidate products with Nestlé and on cosmeceutical candidates with L'Oreal. Anti-hair loss and anti-wrinkle products developed are being licensed to two private sector companies. I hope women will thus be happy. More than 300 community members were trained in agro ... [Interjections.]
The temporary house chairperson (Ms L M Maseko): Hon member, you have one minute left.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Oh gosh, thank you very much.
I move on to research, water, energy, health and education. In support of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform's Comprehensive Rural Development Programme, the DST will in 2014-15 pilot innovative alternative service delivery options for water resource management and wastewater treatment. We intend to ensure that the current and future energy needs of schools are quantified and that appropriate energy technology solutions are developed to meet the identified needs.
I think it is also important to speak about youth in science. In pursuit of increasing public engagement on science, technology and innovation, a science and education centre will be built in Cofimvaba at a cost of R30 million to encourage an appreciation for science and to offer teacher training in the area. [Applause.] A mobile science laboratory will also be linked ... [Interjections.]
Thank you very much. I want to thank the hon Minister for the work that she is doing, the insight, purpose and the passion that she has for this department. I also thank all members and the staff members from the department. Thank you very much. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms L M MASEKO"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,05 Aug 2014,"take 16 [Committee Room E249 Main].doc""Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"[Take-16] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][ns].doc"
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 16
Ms L M MASEKO: Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, all other Ministers and Deputy Ministers present, hon members of this august House, the Director-General of Science and Technology, senior management, stakeholders, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. It is indeed a great pleasure and a privilege to be part of this interesting debate on science, technology and innovation, the areas which are the cornerstone and basis for humankind. It is this basis that prompted the ANC, in its 50th national conference, to resolve and call upon the government to ensure that the programme and efforts to restructure the country's science and technology infrastructure should benefit the poor and rural areas.
The ANC's 1992 Ready to Govern document noted that the use of technology can enhance human potential and improve the quality of life for all citizens of South Africa, thereby helping to achieve the broader socioeconomic goals of a democratic country. Advances in science and technology cannot be achieved unless grounded in sound education and research policies, which have as their aim the maximum utilisation of the full potential of all human resources in our country, and which allow for creativity in scientific and technological research and design.
To achieve these ends, South Africa requires a healthy indigenous and appropriate technological base, which is founded upon the widest possible access to programmes of education and training; scientific and technical fields at all levels; relevant, publicly accountable and efficient research and development; selective application of new technologies, especially in the areas of microelectronics, information technology, biotechnology, new materials and medical technologies; industrial reorientation and restructuring to strengthen the manufacturing base, and the integration of trade unions and other relevant organs of civil society into decision-making processes.
Over the last 20 years, through significant investment in science, technology and innovation, South Africa has achieved breakthroughs in nuclear technology, astronomy, mining, energy and medicine. It is also interesting to note that South Africa is home to some of the world's best scientists and pioneers. Science, technology and innovation are critical for economic growth and development, and in enhancing the quality of life of all South Africans.
The National Development Plan, NDP, considers science, technology and innovation as key aspects of the South African developmental agenda. According to the NDP, science and technology are crucial to equitable growth, as advances in these fields underpin the advances in the economy. The NDP has as its vision for South Africa the elimination of poverty and the reduction of inequality by 2030 through a variety of measures that would radically unleash the energies of citizens, and grow an inclusive economy from being unsustainably resource intensive to becoming knowledge based. This signifies a clear alignment of the department's Vision 2018, the resolution of the 53rd ANC national conference on science and technology, and the NDP. This shows consistency and a commitment by the ANC to move South Africa forward.
It is for this reason that the ANC-led South African government, through the Department of Science and Technology, held consultative engagements in 2004, and subsequently in 2009, with relevant stakeholders, in order to develop the palaeosciences strategy. Palaeosciences refers to the fields of palaeontology, palaeoanthropology, archaeology and related disciplines. You see, we know these things.
These fields, without going too deep into what each actually entails, are collectively the scientific fields related to the evolution of humankind on this earth and the activity of humankind through history. This field goes deeper, as it also focuses on complex systems with regard to the development of cultures, civilisations and the political order.
Palaeosciences in South Africa has been covered with a tainted blanket of a pre-1994 system that was based on racial segregation. As a result, an important geographical advantage for South Africa in the study of human evolution has been hidden for a long time locally, and has been overlooked in the international arena, depriving South Africa of its contribution to a better Africa and a better world.
South Africa has a rich natural and cultural heritage. It has provided fossil evidence that points to a common human ancestry. We need to develop local scientists to interrogate these fossils and other undiscovered fossils in order to clarify the issue of the origins of modern humans. This is very important for nation-building.
The Kingdom of Mapungubwe was a precolonial state in Southern Africa, located at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers, south of Great Zimbabwe where a far developed African civilisation prospered between 1200 and 1270 Anno Domini, AD. The area was already inhabited by a growing Iron Age community from 900AD and became rich through gold trade with faraway places like Egypt, India and China. This is the place where archaeologists excavated the famous golden rhino and other evidence of a wealthy African kingdom.
The strategy has been put in place to vitalise the field of palaeosciences in South Africa through human capital development and the modernisation of the palaeosciences infrastructure. The Palaeosciences Centre of Excellence at the University of Witwatersrand was recently launched by the former Minister of Science and Technology, hon Derek Hanekom. The centre will address the following questions: How does South Africa's palaeosciences record improve our understanding of the origins of species, both human and animal? What are the key behavioural transitions in hominid prehistory, including the origins of modern human behaviour? What are the earth systems that drive evolution? And, what are the roles of extinction and radiation in the evolutionary process?
Already, South Africa has a rich heritage in terms of fossil evidence with the finding of Mrs Ples, Australopithecus africanus, in the Sterkfontein area, in what has been designated the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, which is situated approximately 70 km southwest of Pretoria in Gauteng province. Recently, there was the finding of six fossils of Australopithecus sediba that is thought to be the transitional species from Australopithecus into Homo - which includes us – the modern human. The boy's fossils are named Karabo, and its name came about through the process of public participation and a school competition. Many other fossils have been found within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, which covers 47 000 ha of land, some dating back to more than 3,5 million years ago.
The Taung child found in the North West province in 1924 is also an example of the rich fossil heritage South Africa has in terms of tracing our modern human origins. The palaeosciences strategy will strengthen research in this area in order to shed light on our common national identity and perhaps our common international identity.
The Indigenous Knowledge Systems portfolio of the Department of Science and Technology has been incorporated into the bioeconomy subprogramme to reflect the 2013 approval by Cabinet of the National Bioeconomy Strategy. The Department of Science and Technology recently launched the Indigenous Knowledge Systems' Bioprospecting and Product Development Platform in order for the country to add value to products, processes and services that are inspired by Indigenous Knowledge Systems holders and practitioners. As part of mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge Systems, the Bioprospecting Platform has focused on African traditional medicines, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals.
An agreement was signed by 16 parties involved in the Department of Science and Technology's Indigenous Knowledge Systems' Bioprospecting and Product Development Platform. Among them are the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, which oversees work on nutraceuticals; the SA Medical Research Council, which co-ordinates work on African traditional medicines; the University of Pretoria which oversees work on cosmeceuticals; and organisations representing traditional healers.
This bioprospecting agreement governs how the intellectual property rights and benefits of commercialisation should be shared between scientists and the holders of indigenous knowledge. The nutraceuticals programme is developing products from indigenous teas, while the African traditional medicine programme is conducting preclinical safety testing of candidate treatments for tuberculosis and HIV. The cosmeceuticals programme includes plant extracts that even out skin tone.
The 2013 bioeconomy strategy has been developed in order to exploit local biodiversity through the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and biotechnology for sustainable economic, social and environmental development. The vision is for South Africa's bioeconomy to contribute 5% of the gross domestic product, GDP, by 2050 through the creation of biobased services, products and innovations, including bioentrepreneurs and intellectual property management.
A major comparative advantage for the bioeconomy is the fact that South Africa is the third most biologically diverse country in the world, with almost 10% of the world's known plant species and 15% of all known coastal marine species. Furthermore, South Africa comprises nine unique vegetation types of which three have been declared global biodiversity hotspots. It is also the only country to contain an entire floral kingdom, the so-called Cape Floristic Region.
South Africa's natural capital of biological diversity, combined with its wealth of indigenous knowledge, forms one of the country's greatest assets. The bioeconomy has been allocated an amount of R411 million over the next three years.
Mr G R DAVIS: Hon Chair, I have a point of order. The hon member has been speaking for at least 40 seconds more than her allotted time. [Interjections.]
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms X S Tom): That is not a point of order. [Interjections.]
An HON MEMBER: You have more minutes from the ANC.
The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Ms X S Tom): She has one minute left. Hon member, can you continue?
Ms L M MASEKO: Socioeconomic innovation in the bioeconomy and indigenous knowledge space has several examples, and the Kwanobuhle essential oils project is one of them. The Department of Science and Technology's essential oils project is managed by the CSIR and is one of several examples of socioeconomic innovation and job creation.
Situated on the outskirts of the Kwanobuhle township in the Eastern Cape town of Uitenhage, the farm of 30 ha is covered in neatly planted rows of rose geranium and Lippia Javanica, commonly known as fever tea. The leaves, stems and flowers of these aromatic plants are harvested and essential oils are extracted from them.
IsiZulu:
Ngqongqoshe, thina malungu kaKhongolose sizosebenza ngokubambisana nawe kanti futhi sikufisela inhlanhla kuyo yonke imizamo oyenzayo kanye noMnyango wakho. Ngiyabonga kakhulu.[Ihlombe.] [Kwaphela isikhathi.]
Mr M D KEKANA
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,14 Aug 2014,"Take 17 [Committee Room E249 Main].doc"
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"[Take-17] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][ns].doc"
Ms L M MASEKO
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 17
Mr M D KEKANA: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers present, hon members of this House, director-general and the compound, good morning. Research and development is typically the conception and implementation of product ideas. The research portion of research and development refer to the investigation and experimentation stage of creating a new product or improving an existing product.
The development portion is the process of designing and testing the effectiveness of the new product or product improvement. Worldwide, millions of dollars each year are spent on research and development by governments, nongovernmental organisations and corporations.
Research and development is typically carried out in the research and development departments of many different organisations. For the most part, the research side is taken on by universities, governments and nonprofit organisations, while the development stage is undertaken by manufacturers and profit-making corporations. Some organisations may hire an independent research and development team or pool their resources with similar companies to make their investment more effective.
If we build on our recent success in expanding investments in research and development, we will be able to build new industrial processes that are both locally innovative and internationally competitive. More jobs and greater wealth lies in increased research and development, accruing new patents and trademarks, developing new technologies for transforming traditional industries, creating new products, and training and developing an acute knowledge of markets and their needs.
South Africa has maintained steady growth in research and development expenditure since 1994, with gross expenditure for research and development growing fivefold from R4 billion in 1997-98. The ratio of gross expenditure on research development as a percentage of gross domestic product, GDP, has expanded over this period, from 0,69% to 0,92%, indicating the growing role of research and development within the economy. From 2007-08, however, there has been a decline in gross expenditure on research development as a percentage of gross domestic product.
South Africa will need to double up on its 2005 level of gross expenditure research development of R21 billion to a range of about R41 billion to R46 billion by 2014 if it is to reach the 1,5% gross expenditure on research development of the gross domestic product target. Ideally gross expenditure research development should grow at a range of between 16% and 20% annually. Given the prospects for a higher gross domestic product growth in the medium-term, the requirement for growth expenditure research of development is even higher.
Noting that, the overall research and development intensity in South Africa is low in relation to national policy targets and the global benchmark. Greater levels of commercialisation and usage of research results can unlock South Africa's potential for economic growth. Significant advances in the scientific and technological arena require increases in high skilled human capital, as well as good quality research infrastructure and equipment. South Africa has a well-developed base and network of public science research institutions focusing on key priority areas, which need to be maintained and strengthened in building long-term scientific capabilities.
Hon Minister, as you have alluded to here, on Africa Day 2012, South Africa won the bid to co-host the Square Kilometre Array, SKA, radio telescope which is one of the great science projects of the 21st century. This project is of such magnitude that the Square Kilometre Array central computer will have the processing power of about 100 personal computers, PCs, and the dishes of the Square Kilometre Array will produce 10 times the data of the current global Internet traffic.
The Square Kilometre Array will be far more sensitive than any telescope that exists anywhere in the world. It will enable scientists to address fundamental questions about our universe, including the formation and evolution of stars, galaxies and quasars, the nature of gravity and matter and may even answer the perennial question: Is there intelligent life out there?
The Square Kilometre Array will cost €1,5 to €2 billion, according to the nine-country consortium behind the project, nearly $6 billion, according to America's National Science Foundation. On 23 November 2012 those nine countries - Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand and South Africa, and possibly China as well - committed themselves to paying €90 million for the initial engineering-planning phase.
It will be when the work on the actual telescope begins in 2016 that the crunch will come. This is where MeerKAT, named after a species of mongoose found in arid areas of South Western Africa such as the Karoo, will be built. The construction of its dishes has been put to tender, and it is expected to be fully operational by 2016. If MeerKAT succeeds, it will help persuade governments to join and pay for the SKA.
For the region to develop, science and technology must be taken seriously, as set out in the 2005 New Partnership for Africa's Development, Nepad, document: Africa's Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action. The consolidation plan of action pronounces Africa's common objectives and commitment to collective action in order to promote science and technology for the socioeconomic transformation of the continent, and its integration into the global economy. The continent's commitment to collaboration in science and technology was highlighted at the 2007 summit of the African Union heads of state and government, and members declared the year as the year of "Building constituencies and champions for science, technology and innovation in Africa."
Following the summit of 2007, South Africa has established collaborative research platforms throughout the continent, these being initiatives such as the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, the African Laser Centre and the Southern Africa Network for Biosciences and the Nepad initiative. All over the world, the private sector is a crucial player in advancing the development of new products, services and even industries on the basis of good scientific knowledge and technological developments. It is not uncommon for a country's science and technology strengths to be measured by its private sector. For example, Samsung, KIA, LG and Hyundai helped make Korea a technological powerhouse.
In conclusion, South Africa also has its fair share of leading edge companies that have made their mark on the basis of science, technology and innovation. This includes cutting edge developments within Sasol, the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation, Necsa, MTN, mining companies, etc. However, South African business is in danger of falling behind other countries in the world. For example, over the last few years, the private sector has not been increasing its share of spending on research and development and has in fact fallen behind government as the largest investor.
Companies are also not innovating in cutting edge areas as much as they should. Innovation, in particular, happens within companies as they try to sort out challenges and in response to opportunities. The ANC supports the budget in moving South Africa forward. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr M A MNCWANGO
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 17
Mr M D KEKANA
Mr M A MNCWANGO: Hon Madam Chairperson, from the very onset, the IFP actually supports this budget. [Applause.] I also want to congratulate Madam Minister and Madam Deputy Minister on their appointments as Minister and Deputy Minister respectively. The IFP would like to commend the President for bringing back Minister Pandor to this portfolio, which she previously handled with aplomb.
This is a very demanding and technical portfolio, which requires skill, intelligence and insight. In this respect, the IFP urges the Minister to ensure that the right people are placed in the right positions for the right reasons and not because of ulterior motives. Such placements will have a weakening effect on the department.
The Square Kilometre Array, commonly known as the SKA, is one of the biggest projects that this department is currently dealing with and the IFP would firstly like to congratulate the SKA team on being at the forefront of scientific advancement in South Africa. We also pass our congratulations to Dr Roger Deane from the University of Cape Town, who is leading an international team of scientists in exploring the expanse of our universe. It is through things such as the SKA project that scientists are even returning to South Africa as it presents them with an opportunity to expand their research. We hope that through such projects, and many others, we will see the reversal of the brain drain and more scientists staying than leaving our shores.
The department's research capacity is still in need of further expansion in order to ensure that we draw on the skills base of a largely untapped majority of people. Greater access for young black women is still needed in this field. With expansion in research and development, we hope to continue winning the fight against diseases that affect the most poor and vulnerable of our people. The department must ensure that it has the capacity to give greater attention to this. The ANC would actually do well to take heed of this.
Often the best intentioned budgets fail in implementation through mismanagement and the ever-present problem of corruption. That is our scourge in society. It is therefore concerning that, just three months ago, the ANC called on the Public Protector to investigate the new Deputy Minister for the alleged misuse of municipal funds at the Zululand District Municipality. We hope that this investigation will continue for the sake of transparency and in the interests of clean governance. [Interjections.] No, you guys actually started it. I did not lead a march in Ulundi, you did. You need to ask Bheki Cele and not me. I thank you.
Ms J F TERBLANCHE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 18
Mr M A MNCWANGO
Ms J F TERBLANCHE: Hon Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members, officials and guests, firstly, I would like to welcome back Minister Naledi Pandor to her former department. I hope the good work started under your guidance and that of your successor, Minister Derek Hanekom, now predecessor, will continue.
Furthermore, I would like to compliment the department which was rated as the best managed national department and I sincerely hope that, through proper planning and execution of those plans, the department will be able to retain this position.
A concern, as identified by the Auditor-General, about the reliability of information presented in respect of the number of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises, SMMEs, provided with technology support and the number of masters and doctoral students funded or co-funded in designated niche areas included in the socioeconomic partnerships, should be addressed.
A repeated Auditor-General finding that 29% of targets set by the department during the previous financial year that couldn't be achieved should be a red flag to the department and should receive urgent attention. A further area of concern, however, is the Indigenous Knowledge System, IKS, which falls under the Bioeconomy subprogramme, which is responsible for the Bioeconomy Strategy which was approved by Cabinet last year.
Since the 2010-11 budget, the amount given to this project has been increased almost threefold, but other than the establishment of the research centre hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal, very little has been produced in terms of results. The National Research Foundation, NRF, report also refers to it as ``a long-term view to growing critical capacity in this area of expertise.''
Being married to a researcher and specifically one in the field of Lepidoptera – which is any large order of butterflies and moths - biodiversity and the preservation thereof is something very close to my heart. For example, South Africa has a total of about 660 butterfly species, a group of insects that could be very valuable as indicators and early warning systems for environmental change.
Here, where we are now, in the Cape Peninsula, there are 70 species of butterflies compared to the 59 species in the whole of the United Kingdom. In one small reserve, the Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve near Tzaneen, there are about 200 species of butterflies. In addition, it is estimated that for each butterfly specie there are about 15 moth species, of which some are of direct economic importance and some, like the African Silk Moth and the Mopane Moth, still of unknown potential in direct economic terms.
However, apart from butterflies and moths, I will mention a few other comparisons. The Cape Floristic Region, one of the world's six floral kingdoms, is entirely contained in 0,04% of the earth's land surface. This Cape Floristic Region contains 8 550 plant species of which 70% are endemic to this region. The total number of plant species that are indigenous in the Cape Peninsula are similar to that in the entire England.
With only 2% of the planet's land area, the country of South Africa is home to 6% of the world's plant and mammal species, 8% of bird species and 5% of reptile species. Many of these plant and animal species are only found in South Africa. There are countless examples of how special our indigenous biodiversity is, which is covered well by publications from the SA National Biodiversity Institute, Sanbi.
South Africa is blessed with a rich natural heritage that needs to be preserved. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Barcode of Life, Ibol, in 2011 to establish a national node for the project which is managed through the SA National Biodiversity Institute.
The Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme is a new programme formed and funded by the department that was implemented in 2013. Some of the constraints experienced are the lack of awareness amongst scientists of what barcoding processes and requirements are, and a lack of awareness of the value of DNA barcoding for documenting biodiversity, identifying new species and for its application in monitoring ecosystems, biosecurity and the already mentioned biodiversity conservation.
South Africa has about 100 000 known species of plant, animal and fungi combined and, to date, about 8 000 - only 8% - have been barcoded. The cost of barcoding one species varies and depends on where it needs to be collected from. It could vary from between R2 000 to R3 000 to do it.
The department has an annual investment of about R9 million. The estimated cost of completing the barcode reference library for priority species would be R48 million and about five years would be required to complete the work. It is really heartening to see that the department has put the energy and resources into such an important project.
Another project, Minister, the Cofimvaba Project in the Eastern Cape, where on an oversight visit we could see firsthand the difference that e-learning and bringing children into the technological era could make, is of importance.
I would like to express the hope that the pilot project will soon be expanded not only in the Eastern Cape, but to other provinces also and rural areas like the one we had the privilege of visiting. We live in a knowledge-based society and children need to be equipped with the skills not only to survive, but to also make a sustainable living using technology as a helpful tool.
I thank the department for their role in making science and technology accessible through their contributions to science centres and laboratories, and through projects like the e-learning project. It is projects like these that give me hope for our country's children, the future of tomorrow. [Applause.]
Mr C C MATHALE"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,18 Sep 2014,"Take 19 [Committee Room E249 Main].doc"
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 19
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"[Take-19] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][ns].doc"
Ms J F TERBLANCHE
Mr C C MATHALE: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister of Science and Technology and the member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress, Comrade Naledi Pandor; the Deputy Minister; Minister of Human Settlements present here, a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC; the chairperson of our committee, Dr Goqwana, and members of the committee, the Director-General, the committee secretary and members from the opposition parties present here ... [Laughter.] He is saying ``And Julius!''
Science is the beginning of knowledge and technology consolidates innovation that is much needed to propel forward our economic objectives and ambitions as a country. Science and technology represent the most sustainable form of knowledge economy that has the necessary capacity to assist in our quest to improve the living standard of our people.
The apartheid government realised the importance of science in the development of any human being to the extent that they made it difficult for Africans to study any science related subjects. African schools were not given the necessary infrastructure, including human capital, to offer science subjects to learners. Black universities were not allowed to offer qualifications such as engineering and metallurgy.
Blacks who were interested in studying engineering had to get permission from the Minister of Bantu Education who mostly declined the applications, refusing many of our people the opportunity to become engineers. The few that received permission were further subjected to many other preregistration conditions before being accepted by white universities as full engineering students. The main intention of the apartheid government was to ensure that the oppressed masses of our people did not get quality education which would have placed them on the same level as their privileged white counterparts. But even under such conditions, the oppressed Africans succeeded in becoming scientists of high quality, high standard and high reputation.
Today we are humbled and proud that the former black universities are beginning to register their presence in the science world by producing more young scientists, in particular female scientists from rural communities. It did not come as a surprise that Professor Rapela Regina Maphanga, from the University of Limpopo, won the T W Kambule National Science and Technology Forum Award for being a distinguished young black female researcher in South Africa. [Applause.]
It is also important to mention that Prof Maphanga became the country's second black female PhD graduate in physics, entering a field that is still white male dominated. Although noticeable progress has been registered in producing more black female PhD graduates in physics, more still needs to be done. In 1994, when the ANC-led government took over, there wasn't a single black female PhD graduate in physics. But, at this point in our lifetimes, under the leadership of the ANC, our country has more than 30 black female PhD graduates in physics and more will be produced. [Applause.]
We will not rest until the legacy of apartheid is completely eradicated. A scientific brain knows no colour, and this has been the case since the beginning of time and it will remain as such until the end of time.
The department must continue with the good work of encouraging more young females across racial lines to pursue careers in science and technology. As we are about to enter Women's Month, we are convinced that through the Women in Science awards, more female scientists will be discovered, whilst at the same time giving hope to many others that science is the future.
The R2,2 billion allocated to the National Research Foundation will assist in promoting and supporting research in all scientific fields, especially through the provision of funding to academic institutions to produce more scientists. Through the R21,6 million, the Academy of Science for South Africa must be able to continue promoting exceptional scientific achievements, which are valuable to both the government and the private sector.
In the past 20 years, there has been significant progress registered in capacitating our schools, especially the rural schools, with the necessary infrastructure for science and technology related programmes. Today, some of the provinces that are predominantly rural are producing top learners in science subjects, an achievement which is worth celebrating. Tertiary institutions are also experiencing greater student intake in the areas of science and technology from both rural and township schools. Indeed, there is a good story that should be told. [Applause.]
The TV White Spaces system that is being installed in some of our rural universities through partnership with the private sector plays a pivotal role in providing affordable broadband connectivity to rural schools.
The task of equipping our students with quality education which is in line with the demands of our time cannot be overstated. The same can be said about retaining young scientists in the science and the technology stream. Science is a secret weapon that can be used permanently to interrupt and derail the circle of poverty amongst our people.
Building a solid economy that is supported by strong pillars of scientific innovation is the best investment worth pursuing. As a committee, we must rally behind the efforts to establish high impact science research that will support the growth of environmental technologies and services.
The President's directive that the country needs sustainable industries that grow the economy and, mostly, create job opportunities for our people requires modern facilities and equipment. Our ability to produce more innovative scientific work will enable us to realise the potential of a green economy, which is fast emerging as an alternative form of industry. The dedication of R1,5 billion to innovation and the green economy is the right step taking us into a bright future that will be enjoyed by the present and future generations.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Human Sciences Research Council represent some of our celebrated institutions and they must continue with the work of realising their respective mandates. The department must reach its target regarding the number of technology-based enterprises that must be supported annually, including small and medium enterprises.
Acknowledging the significance of scientists in the era of high technology and innovation world is the way to go, and that is why the department must be supported in its efforts of placing our country on the geography of high knowledge production.
The story about science and the miracles it can perform must be told to our people across all ages, particularly the younger generation. We must waste no time in furthering the work of changing the living conditions of our people. The allocation of funds to various sectors clearly shows that we are on the right path and the department must take into consideration the recommendations made by the committee.
Our understanding is very clear that the struggle continues. The resources are not enough, Comrade Minister but, with what we have, let us do more to serve our people. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,18 Sep 2014,"Take 20 [Committee Room E249 Main].doc"
"Committee Room E249 Main",Unrevised Hansard,22 Jul 2014,"[Take-20] [Committee Room E249 Main][NW-2-49][ns].doc"
TAKE 20
TAKE STARTS AT 11:56
MR C C MATHALE
Mr C C MATHALE
UNREVISED HANSARD
EPC – COMMITTEE ROOM E249
Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 20
The MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Chair, I would like to thank all hon members for their participation in this debate.
I must confess that I am extremely relieved that the EFF was able to say more than ``monopoly capital''... [Laughter.]... a phrase which has become their mantra over the past few weeks. While I agree with some of what was said by the hon member of the EFF, I am a little astounded that, despite the list of demands tabled by the hon member, they will vote against the budget. I am surprised that they believe these things can be done without money! [Laughter.] That is very, very peculiar.
Nevertheless, allow me to comment on one or two of the remarks that were made by hon members. I must say that all the contributions have been of great value for us.
It is true, as the hon member of the DA indicated, that we are below average in many of the comparative indicators that are used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, countries. But I think we need to look at areas where we are performing better. For example, our female researcher participation stands at 43%, while the OECD average is 33%. Also, in certain thematic domains, the impact of our research is significantly above the global average. Examples of this are astrophysics, astronomy, computer science and environmental research. Colleagues from the OECD shared some of this information with me, especially statistics around female researcher participation. So there are areas in which we do well.
I think it is quite difficult to compare us with the OECD countries, given our level of development, our history, and the steps we still need to jump. We have determined that, while we will develop locally, we are going to compete globally. My department is very set on that and we will continue that level of ambition.
That is why, when we were asked why we were bidding for the Square Kilometre Array, when we were told to feed our people instead, when we were told not to worry ourselves about that global area of science, we illustrated to those who were making those comments that global participation in an iconic project such as that will lead to immense development opportunity for us. So, we develop locally but we want to be globally competitive as well. [Applause.]
We also agree that the subject of co-ordination is a matter that deserves a great deal of discussion, and we are having those discussions, and we certainly will be making proposals to Parliament as to how we believe that can happen.
On the issue of the budget I would like to say to the hon members that it was the hon members of this House who voted on a piece of legislation that allows hon members to alter the budget. As far as I am aware, there has not been any shift away from that position by any of the Parliaments since that legislation was adopted by the House. Now, since you are so concerned about the budget to the Department of Science and Technology, maybe you need to do something and use your power, because you have not done so up to now.
I have detailed the investment we are making into the Youth Into Science programmes and the range of programmes in which we are active. Hon members from the ANC, as well as our Deputy Minister – who is the leader of the NFP – made reference to the wireless mesh technology that we have deployed in several schools and institutions throughout the country. We want to widen the wireless mesh network and implement our programmes in the Western Cape and expand them in the province of Mpumalanga. So we are already using that technology.
On the matter of unemployed graduates and tracking of graduates, I think this is an area in which not only we, as the Department of Science and Technology, are weak. I believe – Prof Habib – that many of our universities have no understanding as to why our graduates remain unemployed. We don't track them. We're not really monitoring what is happening to them. It is an area in which we believe we need to develop some expertise and support. We are employing graduates in our 36 science centres in order to give them opportunities to assist young people to improve their Mathematics and Science development.
I must say that I wish to thank the chairperson for demystifying science for many of us. I believe that he will continue to support us in that work as we refresh the mandate of the SA Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, Saasta, and expand our youth science development strategy. I thank hon members again, and I look forward to our debate in the next budget cycle. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
The Committee rose at 12:03.
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