Science minister Blade Nzimande says “existing budget” will fund joint research, despite domestic austerity

South Africa’s science department has said it will channel funds from its “existing budget for international cooperation” to support Palestine in rebuilding its science capacity and infrastructure.

Blade Nzimande, minister for the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), made the announcement on 23 July during a parliamentary debate on his department’s budget priorities. 

In February the treasury said it would slash South Africa’s science budget by 3 billion rand (US$163 million) over the next three years to rein in public spending.

‘Human solidarity’

While Nzimande agreed with MPs from coalition partners and opposition parties that the treasury had not allocated enough funds to his department, he said existing funds will be used for the Palestinian research collaboration to foster “human solidarity” and “social justice”.

He said the programme, carried out by the National Research Foundation, will include joint research projects, hosting Palestinian scholars and students in South Africa, and sharing South Africa’s science policy experience.

“One of the serious dangers with the genocide in Palestine is that [it] can actually wipe out a whole civilisation… so we would like to cooperate in the area of science with the Palestinians,” said Nzimande.

He also outlined other domestic priorities for his department, including vaccine manufacturing, green hydrogen, minerals beneficiation, astrotourism and “producing a critical mass of young, black and women scientists and researchers”.

Reduced budget criticised

While members of the coalition government largely supported the priorities presented by Nzimande, several opposition and coalition MPs condemned the department’s reduced budget.

“More money should be allocated to the department to accelerate the process of addressing the persistent challenges associated with underdevelopment, such as structural unemployment, inequality and poverty,” said the African National Congress’s Lufefe Mkutu, who also serves on the parliamentary committee overseeing the DSTI.

Wynand Boshoff, a member of the Freedom Front Plus coalition party and the oversight committee, also warned that the impact of budget cuts on science would only become clear in the long term. Nzimande agreed that science is underfunded because effects are not immediate.

Budget objections

Opposition parties rejected the budget citing, for example, government indecisiveness, failures to meet global innovation standards, and a lack of focus on research into medicines and traditional healing.

In June, president Cyril Ramaphosa formed a coalition government after the ANC lost its absolute parliamentary majority in the country’s 29 May election. He retained Nzimande as science minister.

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South African MPs also raised concerns of financial aid mismanagement during budget debate

South African MPs raised concerns about student finances and university infrastructure during a debate on the Department of Higher Education’s budget for 2024-25, presented by minister Nobuhle Nkabane.

Nkabane, the new minister of higher education, said on 16 July that her department’s budget is R137.5 billion (US$7.6bn), of which R91.7bn is specifically allocated for university education.

While she committed to “root out corruption and maladministration” within the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, several MPs criticised the failure of the department to deal with payout problems and widespread reports of mismanagement and corruption that surfaced during former higher education minister Blade Nzimande’s tenure in the last administration.

“We have also listened to the silent prayers of our parents for the Department of Higher Education and Training to resolve current student funding and payment challenges,” said Nkabane, adding that fixing NSFAS is a matter of “moral responsibility”.

‘Decentralising NSFAS payments’

Meanwhile, Nkabane’s deputy, Mimmy Gondwe, suggested decentralising NSFAS payments “to those institutions of learning with administrative capacity to manage and administer this funding”.

“The challenges in the higher education sector are many, I’ll not lie to you,” said Gondwe, “but I can assure you that this ministerial leadership team is equal to the task.”

The leadership of the higher education portfolio reflects President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new coalition government, formed after the African National Congress lost their parliamentary majority at the polls in May. Gondwe is from the Democratic Alliance, the second-largest party in parliament, while her fellow deputy, Buti Manamela, as well as Nkabane, are from the ANC.

Endorsing the budget

The ANC’s Tebogo Letsie, chair of parliament’s higher education oversight committee, said his party will “wholeheartedly endorse” Nkabane’s budget but expressed concern about infrastructure grant cuts.

The DA’s Letta Maseko agreed, saying that rural universities in particular faced water and energy challenges, leading to campus shutdowns. “Alternative energy solutions and boreholes must be supported by infrastructure grants,” she said.

Meanwhile, Nkabane also confirmed that a national skills fund contributed R1bn towards a “presidential seed fund” that will support doctoral and postdoctoral skills development and research.

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Letsie has prior experience of the brief but has never served as committee chair

African National Congress MP Tebogo Letsie has been chosen to chair South Africa’s parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education.

Letsie, who was elected to the role on 10 July, has no prior experience as a committee chair, but was an active member of the previous parliament’s oversight committee for higher education, science and innovation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa split the higher education and science portfolios in June to accommodate coalition partners after his party, the African National Congress (ANC), lost its absolute parliamentary majority in the country’s 29 May election.

Reflecting that split, there are now two committees, although the science and innovation committee had not yet elected a chairperson by the time this article was published.

Active member

Letsie is one of only six MPs who served on the higher education, science and innovation committee in the last parliament to retain their seats. Previous chair Nompendulo Mkhatshwa lost her seat.

According to parliamentary watchdog People’s Assembly, Letsie has attended 80 to 90 per cent of committee meetings since 2019. His participation is recorded in several reports, including questions around the ongoing National Student Financial Aid Scheme crisis.

NSFAS has been mired in payout problems and widespread reports of mismanagement and corruption that surfaced during higher education, science and innovation minister Blade Nzimande’s tenure in the last administration.

Other committees

Nzimande is now the minister of science, technology and innovation. The minister of higher education is Nobuhle Nkabane. Both are from the ANC.

ANC MPs have also been elected to chair committees overseeing the agriculture and health portfolios, to which the Agricultural Research Council and the South African Medical Research Council report. The two committees will be chaired by the ANC’s Sibongiseni Dhlomo and Dina Pule respectively.

Leon Basson of the Democratic Alliance, the second biggest party in parliament and a member of Ramaphosa’s coalition government, will chair the oversight committee on water and sanitation, which is tied to the Water Research Commission.

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Mosa Moshabela will assume leadership of top South African research university in August

University of Cape Town’s incoming vice-chancellor, Mosa Moshabela (pictured), will start on 1 August, two months earlier than planned, the university said this week.

“I am pleased to confirm that Professor Moshabela is available to take up the appointment earlier than 1 October 2024,” said UCT council chair Norman Arendse in a statement on 8 July.

He added that Daya Reddy, who has served as interim vice-chancellor since the departure of Mamokgethi Phakeng in March 2023, would stay on to support Moshabela on a part-time basis “for a period of time that is to be determined”.

“UCT owes Professor Reddy a debt of gratitude for taking on the responsibilities of vice-chancellor at a very challenging time for our institution, and making a significant leadership contribution when it was most needed,” said Arendse.

Challenging times

Phakeng left under a cloud after accusations that she lied to the university’s council about the reasons a senior executive departed during her tenure.

At the time of her exit, Phakeng denied any wrongdoing. But an investigation led by a retired judge later found she had misled the council, and also that her abrasive management style had led to several leaders at the university leaving their posts.

Late last year, Arendse apologised on behalf of the council for failing to act earlier regarding governance issues at the institution.

Senior appointments

A number of vacancies remain at the university’s executive level. These include the chief operating officer post, as well as a deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation, and for teaching and learning.

This week, interim vice-chancellor Reddy said the recruitment process for a chief operating officer has yet to be initiated, and that the term of the interim incumbent, Mughtar Parker, has been extended until the end of this year. 

The selection committee and job description for appointing a deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation have been approved by council and the position will be advertised “in due course”, he said. The interim incumbent in this role is Jeff Murugan.

The appointment of a deputy vice-chancellor of teaching and learning is at the shortlisting stage, Reddy added. Linda Ronnie, who has been in the post since July last year in an acting capacity, has had her appointment extended to the end of the year. 

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University sector welcomes appointment of cabinet newcomer Nobuhle Nkabane

Nobuhle Nkabane has been appointed minister for higher education in the ‘government of national unity’ cabinet announced by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Nkabane, a member of the African National Congress, takes over from Blade Nzimande, who has been given the science and innovation portfolio. Higher education, science and innovation were one portfolio in the previous government, but Ramaphosa announced on 30 June that he was splitting them to make room for political partners in his coalition government and to “focus on key issues”.

This is a first cabinet job for Nkabane, who served as deputy to energy and mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe in the last administration. Unlike Mantashe, who has been criticised for appearing to resist renewable energy reform, Nkabane has mostly kept a low profile.

As a 44-year-old woman, Nkabane could be said to exemplify Ramaphosa’s promise to balance his cabinet appointments to reflect the diversity of the nation in terms of gender, age and demographics. She holds numerous higher education qualifications, including a PhD in public administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, which she obtained in 2019, the same year she became an MP for the first time.

Nkabane’s doctoral thesis focused on revenue management in water and sanitation in local government. At the time of obtaining her PhD, she said: “My research into the challenges associated with service delivery will enable me to contribute to turning the tide by applying some of the knowledge from my academic research in my day-to-day work.”

UKZN’s Thokozani Ian Nzimakwe, who supervised Nkabane for her PhD, describes her as an inquisitive, independent and self-disciplined student. “Her analytical abilities, coupled with her meticulous approach to research, consistently impressed me and my colleagues,” he told Research Professional News.

‘Academic trailblazer’

Nkabane’s youth and qualifications have sparked positive reactions from within the higher education sector. In a post on LinkedIn, University of Cape Town health sciences lecturer Nontsikelelo Mapukata said the South African Association of PhDs wished Nkabane well, describing her as a “remarkable servant of the people and an academic trailblazer”.

Several people took to social media to appeal to Nkabane to rescue the country’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme, which has been mired in payout problems and widespread reports of mismanagement and corruption that surfaced during the tenure of her predecessor Nzimande. Julia Mtsweni, deputy president of the South African Students Congress, urged Nkabane to “fix” the scheme in a post on X on 30 June.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal posted its congratulations on 1 July. On X, the university wrote that it “proudly celebrates” her appointment. “We look forward to witnessing the impactful changes under your stewardship,” it said.

Nkabane will be supported by two deputies: fellow African National Congress member Buti Manamela, who served as Nzimande’s deputy in the last administration, and fellow young, female newcomer Mimmy Gondwe from the Democratic Alliance, the second-largest party in parliament and in the coalition government.

Additional reporting by Linda Nordling

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South Africa's two ministerial briefs, separate until five years ago, were married in name only

When South African president Cyril Ramaphosa announced he would split the ministerial portfolio of higher education, science and innovation in two when unveiling his cabinet on 30 June, many wondered: why that one?

The likely answers? Because he needed more ministers, because the portfolio was divided already, and because there were problems in the portfolio that a split could solve. 

Cabinet expansion

Ramaphosa (pictured) prefaced his much-anticipated speech at the Union Buildings in Pretoria by saying he’d had to expand his cabinet to accommodate partners in his new coalition government. He admitted that this reneged on an earlier promise to shrink the government to save money.

“In the course of the sixth democratic administration, we indicated our intention to reduce the number of portfolios in the national executive. However, due to the need to ensure that the national executive is inclusive of all the parties to the Government of National Unity, this has not been possible,” Ramaphosa said.

He went on to name three portfolios that he was splitting: agriculture from land reform and rural development, justice and constitutional development from correctional services, and higher education from science, technology and innovation.

Ramaphosa’s reasoning maps easily onto the first two. Three of the four ministerial posts generated by those splits have been given to people outside Ramaphosa’s own party, the African National Congress. The Democratic Alliance’s John Steenhuisen is the minister of agriculture, while the minister for land reform and rural development is Mzwanele Nyhontso from the Pan Africanist Congress. Justice and constitutional development minister Thembi Nkadimeng is from the ANC, while the minister of correctional services is Pieter Groenewald, leader of Freedom Front Plus.

Problematic portfolio

But the same rationale doesn’t quite work for the third portfolio Ramaphosa split. Both the higher education minister, Nobuhle Nkabane, and science, technology and innovation minister Blade Nzimande, who led the merged portfolio in the last administration, are from the ANC—although one of Nkabane’s two deputies is from the DA. 

Another reason to split science and higher education can be found in the second excuse Ramaphosa gave for reorganising his cabinet portfolios. He said: “In some instances, we have considered it necessary to separate certain portfolios to ensure that there is sufficient focus on key issues.”

The turmoil surrounding the National Student Financial Aid Scheme in recent years proved a major challenge for Nzimande’s leadership when he headed up the merged portfolios. Over the last year, Nzimande himself was implicated in allegations of corruption surrounding the fund, with many—notably the DA, which now governs in partnership with the ANC—calling for his removal. Nzimande has denied wrongdoing.

By splitting higher education from science and technology, Ramaphosa has been able to keep Nzimande, an ally, in a familiar portfolio while removing him from a policy area where he appeared compromised.

The move also creates some continuity for the science department, whose long-serving and popular director-general, Phil Mjarwa, retired earlier this year. His acting successor, Daan du Toit, is a deft hand with a long history in the portfolio, but is not certain to keep that job long-term.

An easy split

All that said, a third reason for the split is that it presented an uncomplicated divorce. The previous departments of science and technology and higher education and training never truly merged.

Despite intentions to streamline processes early on in their marriage, the pair kept their budgets and reporting structures separate. They never built a joint website, and email addresses and URLs have stayed the same as before the merge.

Faced with a need to create new ministerial and deputy minister posts for his new coalition partners, Ramaphosa may simply have picked a low-hanging fruit in the higher education and science ministry.

And opposition would have been limited. Most of the people working in the ministry—barring Nzimande perhaps, whose brief has significantly shrunk—are likely to welcome the split. Their union was only ever skin-deep anyway.

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Cabinet newcomer Nobuhle Nkabane given higher education portfolio, while Blade Nzimande keeps science

South Africa has separate ministers for science and higher education once more, after president Cyril Ramaphosa announced his long-awaited coalition cabinet late on Sunday 30 July.

The announcement at the Union Buildings in Pretoria follows weeks of tense coalition negotiations after Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) lost its absolute parliamentary majority in the country’s 29 May election.

Long-serving higher education minister Blade Nzimande (pictured, right) stays in charge of science, technology and innovation—a brief he headed after the higher education and science departments were merged in 2019 in an attempt to rein in government spending.

The much larger (in terms of budget) higher education portfolio has been given to cabinet newcomer Nobuhle Nkabane (pictured, left), who has served as deputy minister of energy and mineral resources since 2021.

Coalition nation

Ramaphosa’s appointments have been widely criticised for reneging on his promise, made earlier this year, to reduce the size of South Africa’s bloated executive. His cabinet has grown from 30 to 32 ministers, and there are 43 deputy ministers after several departments got two.

The additional appointments were necessary “due to the need to ensure that the National Executive is inclusive of all the parties to the Government of National Unity”, he said in his late-night televised address.

But balancing the coalition was not the only reason to split some ministries, Ramaphosa added. “In some instances, we have considered it necessary to separate certain portfolios to ensure that there is sufficient focus on key issues.”

While Nzimande and Nkabane both hail from the ANC, one of Nkabane’s deputies comes from the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest party in parliament, which has six ministers and six deputy posts in the coalition.

Nkabane will be supported by two deputies: Nzimande’s former deputy Buti Manamela, from the ANC, and Mimmy Gondwe from the DA. Gondwe has held several shadow deputy ministerial roles, including for public enterprises, state security and public service and administration. 

Nzimande just has one deputy, Nomalungelo Gina, also from the ANC. She was deputy minister of trade and industry in the last government.

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But party unlikely to receive all ministerial roles it requested in South African governing coalition

The Democratic Alliance party has asked that it be given the higher education, science and innovation ministerial portfolio in South Africa’s fledgling ‘government of national unity’.

The DA’s request came in a leaked wish list addressed to the African National Congress, dated 23 June.

Ten political parties have now indicated their intention to join the unity government after the country’s election on 29 May, in which the ANC secured just 40.18 per cent of the vote, putting an end to its 30-year majority reign.

With 21.81 per cent of the vote, the DA is the second-largest party in the coalition and therefore a major player in the negotiations for cabinet positions.

A question of proportions

The DA, which led the opposition in the last parliament, identified science and higher education among its 11 “preferred portfolios” in the leaked letter addressed to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.

The wish list also includes the ministries of mineral resources and energy, transport, trade and industry, public works, public service and administration, cooperative governance, communications and digital technologies, justice, home affairs and international relations.

South Africa’s last cabinet had 32 ministers. If it received 11 of those in the new cabinet, the DA’s share would be roughly proportional to its parliamentary seats relative to the ANC.

However, the ANC opposes this division, as evidenced by an earlier leaked letter from Mbalula to the DA. That letter recommends that the DA receive six ministerial posts, an allocation that would be proportional to its share of the whole electoral vote.

News reports on Thursday morning indicated that the ANC was offering six ministerial posts to the DA as part of a “final offer” before announcing the cabinet. President Cyril Ramaphosa is widely expected to announce his cabinet before the end of the week.

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University mulls closure of accommodation block where white supremacy symbols were found this year

The governing council of Stellenbosch University in South Africa has called for “further consultation and consideration” on the rector’s recommendation that its 120-year-old Wilgenhof residence be closed.

The council met on 24 June to deliberate rector Wim de Villier’s recommendation, which echoes a previously confidential report after disturbing finds signalling a white supremacy culture at the residence were made public earlier this year.

Rather than endorse the closure outright, the council of the once whites-only university has issued a call for written submissions on the future of the residence to guide its deliberations.

“The council recognised that opinions on the future of Wilgenhof are deeply divided. This involves several issues including the interpretation of tradition and the need for all university practices to enable an inclusive university where all stakeholders feel they belong,” the university said in a statement.

It said such issues must be thoroughly considered in the interest of fairness, transparency and administrative justice, aligned with its vision and values. 

White supremacy finds

On 9 January, harrowing scenes were uncovered at South Africa’s century-old university when officials opened two locked rooms in the 120-year-old Wilgenhof men’s residence. “Hool 88” was the room where Wilgenhof’s internal disciplinary committee, “the Nagligte” (the Nightlights), conducted their disciplinary activities at night.

Numerous people were overcome with “shock, distress, emotions and tears” upon entering the two rooms, according to a previously confidential report commissioned by the university. The report described the room as “dark, menacing and intimidating” with enigmatic symbols, objects and costumes.

Expert submissions to the investigation panel have confirmed the number 88 has a symbolic association with white supremacy: the number references the phrase “Heil Hitler”, which becomes 88–H being the eighth letter of the alphabet.

Commenting on the report’s findings on 13 June, higher education minister Blade Nzimande strongly condemned the existence of any racially inclined or discriminatory practices or cultures at any of South Africa’s universities.

“Such racist and discriminatory practices or cultures have no place in a free and democratic South Africa,” he said. He urged all stakeholders within the higher education sector to work with government to eradicate such “abhorrent practices or cultures”.

Who owns Wilgenhof?

One of the complications of Wilgenhof’s fate is contention about its ownership. The report states that the residence predates the university and that the Wilgenhof community thinks it “owns” the residence.

“This sense of ‘ownership’ is a deeply held view among the mainly white, male, Afrikaans-speaking community of Wilgenhoffers past and present, who take pride in the facts that: (1) Wilgenhof pre-existed the University itself, and (2) they raised half the money needed to replace the original Wilgenhof residence building,” the report says. 

This feeds into a profound sense that the Wilgenhof community past and present owns the residence and that Wilgenhof is special and set apart from any other residences at the university, the report notes.

Submissions on the fate of the residence will be accepted until 31 July.

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Science council vows to evict illegal occupants who paid fraudsters for parcels of its land

The Agricultural Research Council in South Africa says it is “deeply concerned” about illegal occupation on land that it owns.

“Dishonest and corrupt persons” are selling off stands of the ARC’s land to members of the public, the council said on 24 June.

The ARC’s research farms house experiments on crops, livestock, agro-processing and other agricultural activities. The land invasions disrupt research, and jeopardise the safety of staff and equipment, the council said.

People are also illegally cutting down trees in protected forested areas on ARC land, threatening the forests as well as the research they support, it added.

“These unlawful acts delay much-needed research and development that ensures support to the agricultural sector and food security in South Africa,” the council said.

Public warning

The illegal activities have occurred on the ARC’s Umtiza Research Farm in East London and on its research land in Irene, Pretoria.

In Irene, the property being invaded is part of the council’s Animal Production Campus, which focuses on animal breeding, rangelands and nutrition research, and food science. 

Here, the invasions have targeted land currently used as a residential property for ARC employees, and part of which is also leased out by the council to generate revenue to supplement its government grant. 

The Umtiza farm forms part of the ARC’s research on citrus and other subtropical crops, including pineapple. Research activities at the farm had stopped, but the council says it is talking to partners to resuscitate its activities and to lease out some of the land for profit. 

The ARC told Research Professional News that it has obtained interim court orders to interdict and restrain anyone from entering or occupying its properties with the intention to settle. It says it will work with the courts and law enforcement to evict illegal occupants.

It warns members of the public against engaging with fraudsters selling land, as illegally occupying or invading ARC land “will only result in them losing their hard-earned money and investment during evictions”.

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As president Cyril Ramaphosa negotiates his coalition cabinet, the job could move outside his party

South Africa’s re-elected president Cyril Ramaphosa is yet to announce his new cabinet. This will consist of members of the recently announced “government of national unity”, with ministerial posts set to be allocated roughly according to parties’ vote shares in the May election.

Ramaphosa’s African National Congress is reported to be unlikely to want to cede ministries that are central to national security, such as defence and international relations, or major economic ministries. But what about higher education, science and innovation?

The science, innovation and higher education portfolio has been headed by the ANC’s Blade Nzimande since its creation at the start of the last administration, when the higher education department was merged with the science and technology department. The 66-year-old veteran MP has retained his seat despite the party’s all-time-low election results.

Nzimande could continue as minister. But Ramaphosa may also view the portfolio as one that he can farm out to a coalition partner. There is ample precedent for such a scenario. Non-ANC MPs were appointed as science and technology ministers from 1994 until 2009—first Ben Ngubane and Lionel Mtshali from the Inkatha Freedom Party, then Mosibudi Mangena from the Azanian People’s Organisation. ANC MPs have headed the brief since 2009.

However, South Africa’s early science ministers did not have higher education in their portfolio—something that changed with the 2019 merger. Barring a reorganisation of the portfolio, this is likely to be highly influential in the choice of minister in the next cabinet. 

Competing priorities

Science and technology is a relatively minor policy area in South Africa and—if shrinking budgets are anything to go by—a waning political priority. Meanwhile, recent service failures and mismanagement at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, and the scheme’s ballooning budget, have made higher education a growing priority area across the political spectrum.

The Democratic Alliance, the ANC’s largest coalition partner, says in its manifesto that it wants to fundamentally change the student financial aid scheme. Ramaphosa may therefore choose to protect the status quo by reappointing Nzimande or someone else from within the ANC ranks.

For its part, the DA could oppose Nzimande’s reappointment given that it laid criminal charges against him in January over allegations, denied by Nzimande, that he had received kickbacks from the scheme. One peacekeeping compromise might be to give the higher education, science and innovation brief to a third party in the five-party unity coalition.

We may not know for a while who will head up science and technology in South Africa’s new government. Negotiations between coalition partners only got underway this week and are likely to be fraught. South Africa has had a national unity government before, but at that time—in 1994—the ANC was negotiating from a position of ascending, rather than diminishing, political power.

It remains to be seen how the ANC and the fledgling coalition adapt to this new era.

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Meeting hears call for additional resources to predict and mitigate floods, tornadoes and drought

Climate data from southern Africa may not be “usable” or “robust” enough for decision-makers who need to plan for extreme weather events, a meeting at Stellenbosch University in South Africa has heard.

The meeting to discuss extreme weather in developing countries preceded a flood that killed 10 people in the Eastern Cape and a tornado that killed 11 people in KwaZulu-Natal in early June.

In a write-up of the 22-24 May meeting on 10 June, the Department of Science and Innovation said that South Africa “has experienced its share of extreme climate events”, citing several damaging droughts, floods and storms since 2015.

Research presented at the meeting shows that climate change is putting pressure on agriculture in the Western Cape and threatening lives and the economy in the Limpopo and Botswana regions, the department said.

No consensus

Bruce Hewitson, director of the University of Cape Town’s Climate System Analysis Group, warned at the meeting that a mismatch between different sources of information prevents good decision-making to mitigate disasters.

“At present, there is no consensus or general agreement on how to assess the robustness of actionable information at the decision scale,” he said.

He also said that more resources and funding are needed to adapt to extreme climate events, but that competing priorities could stymie investments.

The science department said that South Africa has legislation in place to “enable a coordinated and integrated response to climate change and its impact from all spheres of government”.

It said that the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy developed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, as well as the National Climate Change Response Policy, will help to manage climate change impacts and emergency responses.

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But government instability after South Africa’s dramatic election could delay action, expert warns

Civil society organisations have demanded that South Africa ramp up testing and treating of tuberculosis by the first of December this year.

The call comes in an open letter to Joe Phaahla, the health minister, published on 7 June, the final day of the 8th South African TB Conference held in Durban.

The letter demands that the government increase TB testing, prevention and treatment measures, but that it also improves access to psychosocial interventions like counselling and nutritional support for affected families.

Limakatso Lebina, a TB clinical trials specialist at the Africa Health Research Institute who was on the conference organising committee, told Research Professional News that she thought their demands were “reasonable and necessary”.

However, she said she doubts the 1 December deadline will be met as political uncertainty threatens ministerial positions following the recent national polls.

Election uncertainty

On 29 May, South Africa held an election where the ruling African National Congress lost its majority in parliament.

With political parties exploring coalition options, it is not clear whether Phaahla, who has retained his parliamentary seat, will return as health minister.

In their open letter, organisations including South African National AIDS Council Civil Society Forum, TB proof and Show Me Your Number expressed their hope that he will.

“However, if this is not the case, make sure you provide to the minister who will take over from you this letter and advise him to act with greater speed than you did,” they write.

Cross-cutting needs

Lee-Ann Davids, head of monitoring, evaluation and research at the South African Medical Research Council’s office for Aids and TB research, said the Durban conference agreed on the need for a more cross-cutting approach to the disease.

“The conference was unanimous in its conclusion that a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach will be required to accelerate our progress in ending TB as a public health threat,” she told Research Professional News.

She and Lebina said experts agreed that although South Africa has made great progress in biomedical interventions including vaccines, drugs and diagnostics, the focus must shift to include areas like affordability, social services and food parcels.

“It is not just about the free TB treatment once one is diagnosed. The big cost is accessing diagnosis,” said Lebina, citing the cost of multiple health facility visits and tests.

Details needed

Lebina said that while South Africa has good policies in principle to facilitate a cross-sectoral TB response, researchers still need to figure out the details of implementation.

For example, she said, while it is easy to say nutritional support is needed, there are questions around the type of support and possible associated stigma. “Is it a food supplement? Is it a food parcel? Where should they be collecting it? What is the stigma if there is a delivery van going to certain families? Would that bring more stigma and discrimination for those families?”

Lebina also indicated that research and funding is still needed for biomedical interventions, including developing improved TB vaccines and finger-prick diagnostics.

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Move comes as global concern grows in the wake of infections in US dairy workers

South Africa is stepping up efforts to detect avian influenza in humans following growing global concern about spillover infections from animals.

The stepped-up surveillance system due to be operational later this year will document human cases associated with outbreaks in poultry, wild birds or other animals, the country’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases has confirmed.

“This surveillance system will be set up in collaboration with veterinary and animal health colleagues,” Sibongile Walaza, head of epidemiology in the institute’s Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, told Research Professional News.

Pandemic potential

Concerns are growing globally around avian influenza, with three dairy workers in the US having caught the virus from dairy cattle since April this year.

Bird flu comes in various subtypes, including H5N1, responsible for the infections from cows to humans. Humans infected with H5N1 have died in around half the cases that have been reported globally.

Infection between people is so far very rare, but this could change if the virus mutates as it spreads, which makes tracking the disease a priority for health bodies including the World Health Organization. 

No time for complacency

Last year, an outbreak of H5N1 in South African poultry farms decimated the country’s poultry stocks and disrupted egg production in the country. No human infections were reported.

But that should not breed complacency, Walaza said. “Although no human cases were detected during the recent outbreaks in chickens, testing and surveillance are important for any future potential exposures.”

Walaza said her laboratory is able to detect and sequence flu viruses, including those of avian origin, and store them in case they are needed for vaccine production.

“Should a pandemic virus emerge with the potential to spread from person to person, South Africa has a pandemic preparedness plan in place,” she said.

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USAf's CEO Phethiwe Matutu outlines priorities for higher education as coalition talks carry on

The chief executive officer of Universities South Africa has urged the country’s incoming government to reverse funding cuts to universities and to fix the country’s student aid funding system.

Phethiwe Matutu’s message comes in a statement outlining USAf’s vision for the sector after the African National Congress received less than half the vote in the country’s 29 May poll, ending its majority rule.

“We take this opportunity to present higher education matters deserving priority attention in the new administration’s agenda, as education is the soul of our future as citizens and the country,” she writes in the statement, which can be read in full here.

As a new era of coalition politics dawns, South Africa’s higher education sector faces several “significant challenges,” Matutu (pictured) writes.

“In recent years, the block grant subsidies, which fund the day-to-day operations of universities including learning materials and personnel, have dropped below inflation,” she writes.

Existential threats

Mismanagement at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has also had “serious ramifications” for the stability of the sector, she writes.

If such trends continue then “universities in South Africa face significant financial pressure and risk their financial sustainability over the medium term and even their existence over time,” she writes.

On South Africa’s ailing student aid scheme, Matatu urges the incoming government to avoid “trying out different untested policies to sustain an unsustainable model of NSFAS”.

Instead, she writes, Usaf wants the country’s new government to ensure that funds allocated to the scheme are “properly, efficiently and effectively administered”.

She highlights the need for more postgraduate funding, after policy changes introduced in recent years reduced the number of grants available for students at this stage of their careers.

“South Africa cannot afford to lose its talent to other countries due to inadequate investment in these critical areas,” she writes.

USAf’s full statement to South Africa’s new government

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More than half of committee’s MPs, including former chair, lose seats in power-shifting ballot

More than half of the MPs who served on South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation in the last parliament have lost their seats, Research Professional News can reveal.

Most notably, chair Nompendulo Mkhatshwa (pictured) has lost her seat after her African National Congress party bled votes in the polls on 29 May, taking it down to a historic low of just over 40 per cent.

Several other committee members from the ANC similarly stood for a seat without success: Jane Mananiso, Bafuze Yabo, Duduzile Sibiya and Sidumo Dlamini.

Naledi Chirwa from the Economic Freedom Fighters party also lost her seat, as did Chantel King from the Democratic Alliance, who has served as that party’s shadow science and higher education minister since 2020.

Two ‘alternate members’ of the committee also lost their seats. They are Sibongiseni Ngcobo from the DA and Teboho Loate from the Congress of the People, a party that failed to secure a single seat this time around.

Only six of the MPs who served on the committee in the last parliament are set to retake their seats when the new National Assembly sits for the first time on 14 June in Cape Town. It remains to be seen whether any of them will return to serve on the committee in this parliament.

The returnees are Tebogo Letsie from the ANC, Karabo Khakhau from the DA, Wynand Boshoff from the Freedom Front Plus, Sanele Zondo from the Inkatha Freedom Party, and Mandla Shikwambana and Sinawo Thambo from the Economic Freedom Fighters.

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Limited access to social media data makes studying misinformation flows “almost impossible”

Data scientists trying to monitor misinformation spreading in real time as South Africans voted in the country’s general election last week say their work was hampered by restrictive data policies.

Vukosi Marivate from the University of Pretoria says social media platforms like X and Facebook have largely shut researchers out, making gathering and analysing public post data “almost impossible”.

This has set the 2024 elections apart from earlier elections, when social media platforms enabled easy access for researchers to gather data, Marivate said.

This time around, his team had to rely on organisations like the country’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which has “paid access through third-party marketing tools,” he said.

‘Immense’ work

As the results began flowing in after polling stations closed on the evening of 29 May, several disinformation campaigns were unmasked by civilian fact-checkers, researchers and news outlets.

According to Marivate, there is an “immense” amount of work needed to be done for real-time monitoring of how disinformation is spread. He said: “Preliminary analysis shows there are groups of people who tend to gather around a topic to amplify it and also sow distrust.”

Zubeida Dawood, a cybersecurity expert at the CSIR, told Research Professional News that social media organisations, the government and the private sector need to do more to enable transparency, to regulate and flag political misinformation, and to help researchers “understand the patterns and impact of misinformation”.

She said the private sector can help by providing funding to academic institutions and research organisations that are studying misinformation and how to combat it.

Moderation gap

In March, Marivate and Dawood called for appropriate policies around misinformation and elections in South Africa, as well as access to social media data.

Back then, they said updated regulations and open data are needed to monitor harmful online behaviour and to develop local artificial intelligence technologies to help safeguard elections.

This week, Marivate reiterated that social media platform data access policies are “supremely important” for ongoing misinformation monitoring, and to enforce election rules and moderation of content that may harm South Africans.

“There is misinformation that was flagged months ago that is still up on these platforms today. We will likely have election misinformation still being available, even after being debunked, months or years from now,” he said.

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Blade Nzimande only just makes cut after ANC sheds 71 National Assembly seats in election

South Africa’s immediate past science minister, Bonginkosi ‘Blade’ Nzimande, has squeaked through to secure a seat in parliament after the African National Congress’s backslide in the country’s elections.

The ANC only received 40.18 per cent of the votes cast on 29 May, a big drop from the 57.5 per cent it got in 2019. This translates to 159 seats in the National Assembly, down from 230 in 2019.

The ANC allocates parliamentary seats according to lists that are finalised before the election. Nzimande is number 70 on the ANC’s national list. Only 73 seats can be given to people on this list. Remaining seats need to be allocated to people on the ANC’s regional lists.

Buti Manamela, who served as Nzimande’s deputy, also appears safe at 17th place in the ANC’s national list.

Who’s out

Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, who has chaired the parliamentary committee for higher education, science and innovation since August 2021, seems certain to lose her seat. Her name appears in 152nd place in the national list.

Naledi Pandor, who served as science minister from 2014 to 2018, and more recently as minister of international relations and cooperation, does not make the cut either in 86th place.

However, Pandor could be brought in as minister anyway under rules that allow up to two ministerial posts to be held by non-MPs.

The ANC has been negotiating with prospective coalition partners since the election results were announced on 2 June. The party remains the largest party in the National Assembly, despite losing its majority.

South Africa’s new parliament has to sit no more than 14 days after the results are announced to elect a new president.

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Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela’s donation will fund research into violent histories and repair at South African university

Stellenbosch University in South Africa has welcomed a donation of R8 million (US$423,000) from Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, a psychology professor at the university who is this year’s Templeton Prize winner.

Gobodo-Madikizela (pictured) will give R5m towards an endowment scholarship, R1m to support future professors and R2m to support young scientists at the university’s Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest, of which she is founding director, the university said on 4 June.

The Templeton Prize is currently worth over US$1.3m. It is awarded every year by US-based NGOs including the John Templeton Foundation and recognises researchers who answer “deep questions” on the universe and humans’ place in it.

Gobodo-Madikizela studies the transgenerational impacts of violent histories and the repair process. She served on South Africa’s historic Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the fall of the racist Apartheid regime.

“Her insights into the mechanisms of trauma and forgiveness in post-apartheid South Africa have created a globally recognised model for social healing in the aftermath of conflict,” the John Templeton Foundation said.

‘A rare gift’

In the university’s statement, Gobodo-Madikizela said the prize was a “rare gift” that will help fund postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows researching violent histories and healing at a time of “reduced funding all round”.

Sibu Moyo, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor for research, innovation and postgraduate study, expressed her delight that Gobodo-Madikizela’s work was being “recognised in this special way”.

“Her plan to donate some of her prize to Stellenbosch University is really humbling and shows her passion for the work she does and dedication to support the next generation of scholars,” said Moyo.

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Mosa Moshabela will assume top role at South African university following period of leadership turmoil

The African Research Universities Alliance has welcomed the appointment of public health expert Mosa Moshabela (pictured) as the new vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town in South Africa. 

UCT announced Moshabela’s appointment last week. The public health specialist will take up the post on 1 October.

On social media platform X, Arua said it was “thrilled” with the appointment of Moshabela, who currently serves as deputy vice-chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

In that role, Moshabela “has worked closely with Arua, contributing significantly to our mission of advancing research and education in Africa,” the 19-university alliance said. UCT is a founding member of Arua.

Turmoil at the top

In its appointment announcement, UCT described Moshabela as an esteemed academic and clinician who received a public communication award for his work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Moshabela also currently chairs the board of South Africa’s National Research Foundation.

He will join the university 18 months after the last substantive vice-chancellor, Mamokgethi Pakeng, left the institution under a cloud of controversy. 

Phakeng, who had led the university since 2018, left the post amid allegations that she had lied to the university’s senate about the reasons for the departure of former deputy vice-chancellor of teaching and learning, Lis Lange.

An investigation led by a retired judge and published in November found that Phakeng had not only lied about Lange, but that her conduct and management style had also resulted in other senior UCT officeholders leaving their posts.

At the time, Phakeng’s spokesperson described the report as “hogwash”.

Respect and humility

Moshabela will take over the post from Daya Reddy, who has served as interim vice-chancellor since March last year.

At his appointment briefing, Moshabela said he was prepared to address and manage UCT’s challenges with respect and humility. “At the end of the day, it won’t be about what I want, but rather what UCT wants,” he said.

Moshabela added that he has no problem having difficult conversations, but asked for patience from the UCT community.

“The advantage that I’m seeing about UCT is that people have a lot of willingness to see challenges solved,” he said. “Everyone is keen to course correct and move forward, and that willingness comes with a lot of goodwill,” he said.

On X, the Africa Health Research Institute wished Moshabela, who serves on its board of directors, “huge congratulations” on his appointment.

University of South Africa vice-chancellor Puleng LenkaBula also congratulated Moshabela and wished him all the best in his new responsibilities.

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Construction can now start on “new home” for University of Cape Town’s public governance school

The University of Cape Town in South Africa announced on 17 May that construction on its proposed Nelson Mandela Memorial Centre can begin after it received a “generous grant” of US$21.5m from Atlantic Philanthropies.

“The Atlantic Philanthropies grant represents the largest single donation ever received by UCT, and is a testament to the vision and impact of the project,” said the university’s interim vice-chancellor Daya Reddy (pictured) in a statement.

Resonance and reflection

The centre, to be built with the grant and other donor and alumni contributions, will house the university’s Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and a “vibrant convening space”, curated in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the university said.

The convening space will feature art installations, walkways and meeting areas “designed to facilitate catharsis, reflection and spiritual resonance; and provide for reflection on the life and times of Nelson Mandela”, the university added.

Verne Harris, the foundation’s acting CEO, said UCT has “many historical links with Mandela and with his family members”, adding that the foundation approves the association of Mandela’s name with a school dedicated to “nurturing the kind of leadership which humanity needs”.

Next generation

The School of Public Governance’s director Faizel Ismail said the centre will continue to train the next generation of ethical African leaders. “This leadership must draw on the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela and reflect the values of ubuntu,” he said.

The centre will be built adjacent to the Rhodes Memorial, a structure perched above UCT that commemorates the British colonial officer who bequeathed the land on which the university stands.

UCT said the placement is deliberate to “invite dialogue and reflection” on the opposing legacies of Cecil John Rhodes and Nelson Mandela.

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International Atomic Energy Agency pledges support for Pretoria-based facility for cancer treatment and research

A centre to scale up nuclear medicine training and research across the African continent has officially opened in Pretoria, South Africa.

The Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure, or NuMeRI, has been set up as a not-for-profit company associated with the University of Pretoria’s nuclear medicine department and is located at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital.

The facility, which has been built and commissioned over several years, houses imaging equipment used for cancer diagnosis, treatment, drug development and clinical research.

South African science officials told the ribbon-cutting ceremony on 21 May that NuMeRI is the first of its kind in Africa.

Filling gaps

Speaking just before the ceremony, Lerato Makgae, national liaison officer to the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the IAEA would designate NuMeRI as a regional “anchor centre” in early June.

The IAEA’s anchor centres support radiotherapy training for fellows from their regions, she said.

“A lot of our countries…are struggling with cancer management and there’s no resources, there’s no skills,” said Makgae. “We have inadequate medical physicists and we are struggling in terms of putting curricula [in place].”

NuMeRI’s president Mike Sathekge told Research Professional News that collaborations are ongoing or soon to be established with institutions in Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius, Zambia, Namibia, Senegal and Ethiopia.

Makgae also said that NuMeRI will be recognised as an IAEA Collaborating Centre for nuclear medicine and radiotherapy, alongside the iThemba Labs, a national facility that collaborates with the IAEA on nuclear instrumentation.

The iThemba Labs particle accelerators in Cape Town produce the radioisotopes that NuMeRI uses for medical treatments.

One-stop shop

In a statement, the Department of Science and Innovation called NuMeRI a “one-stop shop” for imaging and therapy.

The facility is “equipped with two cyclotrons (one for a commercial partner and one for research), seamlessly connected to two separate radiopharmacies”, the statement said.

The department has invested 390 million rand (US$21.4m) in NuMeRI since 2020, with an additional R85m for the University of Pretoria to construct the facility’s building.

Prior to that spending, the first ‘phase’ of NuMeRI had originally been established at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation at a cost of R150m between 2016 and 2019.

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These are the science and university funding policies of the parties contesting next week’s election

On 29 May, South Africans will be heading to the polls to cast their votes in the country’s seventh democratic general election.

The ruling African National Congress is widely expected to get less than half of the vote for the first time. This has opened up the playing field for South Africa’s other parties, who might wield more power after the polls as part of governing coalitions.

In the election run-up, Research Professional News has scoured the parties’ manifestos to pick out what they say about higher education, science and technology.

This is a summary of that work with links to more detailed analysis.

African National Congress

South Africa’s ruling party says it will improve access to education while expanding the use of science and technology to transform society for the better.

It picks out green technologies and climate change as key areas for investment, alongside artificial intelligence and blockchain.

It also aims to increase both enrolment and graduation of students at the country’s universities, with a focus on students who come from previously disadvantaged demographic groups, and students with disabilities.

Full analysis of the ANC’s manifesto

Democratic Alliance

South Africa’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, makes the country’s higher education “funding environment” a focus of its manifesto.

This includes reforming the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), turning it into a “tiered system” offering loans and grants with a stronger eye towards repayment to make the scheme more sustainable.

The DA also says it will “invest in research and innovation” to improve higher education outcomes and attract top researchers from around the world.

Full analysis of the DA’s manifesto

Economic Freedom Fighters

The Economic Freedom Fighters promises to triple national research funding in its 255-page manifesto, the longest of any party.

Many of its pledges revolve around expanding access to higher education, including offering free accommodation and food for those who need it. 

To fund its education promises, the EFF says it will introduce a two per cent education and training tax for private companies with turnovers of R50 million or more.

Full analysis of the EFF’s manifesto

Small parties

Many of South Africa’s smaller parties also include higher education policies in their manifestos.

The Patriotic Alliance aims to fight “brain drain” by preventing state-funded university students from emigrating for an “agreed-upon, significant space of time in recognition of the investment that the state has made”.

The Inkatha Freedom Party says it will reform NSFAS by moving its administration and management back to tertiary institutions. This will ensure greater efficiency, transparency and responsiveness, it says. 

Meanwhile, former president Jacob Zuma’s newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe party indicates it will promote higher education within the borders of South Africa.

Full analysis of the small parties’ manifestos

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Unpaid fees threaten funds for maintenance and research equipment, says finance head

Rhodes University in South Africa has called on businesses, alumni and the public to help it raise funds as rising student debt and student aid cuts threaten its operational budget.

“The immediate goal is to raise R74 million (US$4m) to lessen the financial burden on current students and graduates,” the university said in a 13 May news release.

Last week, Research Professional News reported that universities across South Africa are owed billions, in part due to the ongoing National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) crisis, with thousands of students unable to graduate due to unpaid fees.

Rhodes said many institutions are now facing even more uncertainty after NSFAS decided to cap funding allowances for students. “At Rhodes University alone, R43m is owed to the university in outstanding student debt due to the cap in funding in only one year.

“Concern is palpable … as the institution grapples with escalating student debt,” the university said. The university’s outstanding student debt amounts to R321m, it said.

Curbed spending

The funding shortfall has forced the university to reduce spending. “We have a backlog in maintenance on our infrastructure that runs into billions,” said chief financial officer Kamlesh Riga in the statement.

Replacing or buying new research equipment could also drop down the priority list, he added. “If we don’t have surplus funds that we can re-invest, this will affect our operations … long-term, the university’s financial sustainability will be at risk.”

Riga said the university’s student intake has dropped this year, worsening “an already precarious financial situation”.

Students have had to cut back their spending on food and essentials, the university said, adding that “many will enter the working world already on the back foot with hefty debt bills”.

To alleviate the impact of student debt, the university is calling for donations to its Unlocking Futures fundraising campaign, which can be accessed through its website.

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“Fully operational” regulator set to start working this year, says government

South Africa will implement new indigenous knowledge-protection laws by establishing a regulatory authority this year, according to government documents.

The country’s Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) commits to establish a “fully functional” regulatory authority for the indigenous knowledge sector in 2024 as part of its performance plan for 2024-25, published last month.

The regulator will run on a “special service delivery unit” platform, alongside a registration system still under development. It will create a registry of traditional knowledge, such as medicines and food products, and aim to ensure the benefits derived from it are shared fairly. 

Protection and recognition

There are already two DSI portals for indigenous knowledge systems currently accessible online, both developed in 2022. One is known as the National Indigenous Knowledge Registration System, or NIKRS, and the other as the National Indigenous Knowledge Systems Office, or NIKSO.

According to the DSI’s annual plan, the NIKSO portal is set to become the new special service delivery unit serving as the regulatory authority.

The new setup will also allow for those with prior learning in indigenous knowledge systems outside of academic settings to be recognised for their know-how and skill, the DSI wrote. 

Bioinnovation institute

The DSI notes that a major risk it will need to mitigate is stagnant scientific output from research areas where South Africa has a geographic advantage, including indigenous knowledge systems.

Establishing a regulatory authority for the sector is one way to leverage the country’s geographical advantage, it said, in addition to setting up a new bioinnovation institute based on indigenous knowledge.

Such an institute would mainstream the “wealth of African knowledge and wisdom” for research, innovation and business development, the DSI wrote in its plan.

“The institute will be a precursor for the establishment of world-class natural product industries on the African continent,” it said.

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Small South African parties support free tertiary education but most lack concrete plans

Nearly all of South Africa’s small political parties support free higher education in their manifestoes, published ahead of the general election at the end of this month.

However, only a few—six of 112—present a plan for higher education, and only one party indicates a way forward for technology and research for South Africa.

These parties, which exclude the big three—the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters—currently only hold around 10 per cent of seats in the National Assembly.

With the upcoming election expected to be the country’s most hotly contested to date, there could be room for smaller parties to grow.

Free education

Except for the Freedom Front Plus, all smaller parties explicitly entertain the possibility of free tertiary education for deserving students with certain provisos, like payback at the end of the study period. 

The Patriotic Alliance aims to fight “brain drain” by restricting emigration for students who are funded by the state for an “agreed-upon, significant space of time in recognition of the investment that the state has made”.

The Congress of the People (Cope) promises students Wifi hotspots, internet connectivity and data breaks for educational applications and websites. The party also highlights the urgent need for accommodation for students.

Former president Jacob Zuma’s newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe party indicates it will focus on the promotion of higher education within the borders of South Africa while ensuring that all education aligns with the needs of the economy.

Student aid

The challenges associated with South Africa’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have been highlighted by two of the smaller parties: the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM). 

The IFP says it will reform NSFAS by moving its administration and management back to tertiary institutions. This will ensure greater efficiency, transparency and responsiveness, it says. 

The UDM says it will “overhaul” the administrative structure at NSFAS “ to streamline the payment process for students and service providers”.

Leveraging AI

Cope is the only small party that cites plans to increase research and research output. The party believes the research and higher education sector should embrace artificial intelligence and technology tools such as ChatGPT. 

These technological tools should be used in education to enhance “teaching, personalise learning, improve learning efficiency, increase competitiveness and facilitate administrative processes,” Cope says.

Research Professional News aims to cover the science, technology and higher education promises of major political parties contesting the country’s elections in May.

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New fellowship scheme will connect academia to government policymaking

Postdoctoral researchers at several South African universities will bring their “deep insights” to government science policies as part of a new national fellowship programme.

South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) and Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) announced the first 14 beneficiaries of its Policy Placement Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme on 7 May.

According to an NRF statement, the programme will allow “outstanding researchers and academics” to contribute their expertise directly to government institutions.

‘Programme is long overdue’

Thandi Mgwebi, a senior executive at the NRF, said the launch of the programme is “long overdue” but will provide opportunities for postdocs to enter the field of “policymaking and sensemaking”.

The programme will also assist those in the policy space with access to “high-level skills from academia”, “fresh thinking” and “fresh innovation”, she added.

Imraan Patel, deputy director-general for research development and support at the DSI, echoed this, saying that South Africa’s policy environment needs the “deep insights” offered by PhD graduates.

In general, fellows will be expected to engage with policy around energy, social sciences, agriculture, climate change and health, in line with the DSI’s current official 10-year plan. The first cohort of 14 fellows, all based at universities and research councils across the country, will focus on issues including open science, human capital development, innovation and research impact.

“The fellowship programme is expected to be scaled up over the next few years, with an open call for postdoctoral researchers to apply for the programme in 2025 and beyond,” the NRF statement said.

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Innovation and education seen as key to developing continent’s health workforce

A World Health Organization charter will mobilise funding to support African health workers and “get feet on the ground”, particularly in rural and primary healthcare.

In a public statement released on 6 May, the WHO said the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter brings together national governments, the private health sector, civil society, external financing institutions and development partners in Africa to address funding shortages and a lack of healthcare professionals.

The charter was officially launched by the WHO’s Africa Regional Office during the Health Workforce Investment Forum held in Namibia from 6 to 8 May.

A charter document published by the WHO in 2023 cites innovation, technology and education as key investment areas for a turnaround.

Speaking at the Namibian launch, the director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control, Jean Kaseya, said the forum would discuss funding to scale education, as well as how technology could be leveraged to train, support and expand the reach of health workers.

“These discussions are not academic; they are urgent and essential,” he said. “Our collective effort is needed to translate our plans into tangible outcomes.”

Positive impact

The WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, agreed that investment into the health workforce would benefit education, adding that it would have multiple positive effects on health and national economies, including on employment, gender equality and life expectancy.

Kaseya and others noted the underlying causes of health workforce shortages, including underfunded health systems in African Union member states, inadequate training capacities, poor remuneration of health workers, rapid population growth, skilled emigration and weak governance.

“Any discussion about the delivery of healthcare services must acknowledge that, for these services to be rendered, and rendered effectively, we need feet on the ground,” said Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Namibia’s prime minister.

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University certificates withheld as student debt mounts

Tens of thousands of students at South African universities are unable to graduate or gain their degree certificates due to outstanding tuition fees, the nation’s higher education minister has revealed to parliament.

Blade Nzimande, minister of higher education, science and innovation, disclosed figures in a written parliamentary response dated 30 April.

Nzimande provided exact figures from 19 institutions on students who owe university fees, as well as on students who consequently are unable to graduate or receive their certificates.

A measure of goodwill

His response showed that many South African universities withhold certificates but do allow students with outstanding debt to participate in graduation ceremonies. It also showed the National Student Financial Aid Scheme crisis impacting university finances.

The University of the Witwatersrand, for example, told Nzimande that as of 12 April, 4,557 students would not graduate or receive their certificates, with a total debt value of nearly R300 million ($16m). “Included in this number are students who were funded by NSFAS at some point in their academic careers, and who owe funds in their personal capacity.

“The university has a principle and practice to allow the students who are solely NSFAS funded to graduate, which is a practice that has been done in good faith with an understanding that NSFAS will settle the debt upon the finalisation of the respective close-out reports,” the university reported.

The University of Cape Town said that 332 students will not graduate or receive certificates but would receive a letter of completion, while the University of Pretoria said it has “1,327 degrees in safe keeping”, with debt amounting to R47.5m.

Stellenbosch University said that 522 students did not receive their graduation certificates at the 2023 December graduation ceremony.

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Professional body apologises but blames bottlenecks on “unprecedented increase” in applications

The body charged with certifying professional scientists in South Africa has admitted that it has struggled to meet an “unprecedented increase” in demand, leaving some applicants waiting years for registration.

The South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions was created in its current form in 2003 to set standards for the training and recognition of natural scientists in South Africa. The government encourages all scientists in the country to register with the body, and many science jobs require applicants to be registered.

However, a number of people have complained of long waits—some say years—for their applications to be processed, with many still waiting.

Pending status

Last month, more than 20 science professionals voiced their displeasure with delays on LinkedIn after Richard Graeme Horn, a geologist working at the Angolan diamond-mining company Endiama, called out the council.

“I’ve been emailing and calling them for the past month but I am still waiting for someone to respond,” he wrote on the social networking site, adding: “People’s careers can effectively be put on hold while waiting for certificates.”

The council quickly replied to the post, and Horn later provided an update to say that the issue had been resolved. However, many people had by then commented on his post citing similar experiences.

“I have spoken to multiple people at the office over and over again, and no progress for over a year. It is an absolute disgrace and I don’t even know what to do any more,” wrote Sandhya Moodley, a terrestrial ecology specialist.

“My application took two years to finally be processed and status granted,” wrote Fathima Ally, a scientific data specialist.

Overwhelmed system

In a statement sent to Research Professional News this week, the council said it “acknowledges” the frustrations expressed by applicants. “We’ve extended our sincere apologies to those affected and appreciate the opportunity to address these concerns,” it said.

Acting science communications manager Tobi Mzobe said the council’s recent challenges “stem, in part, from a significantly positive development”.

Government and industry are pushing for professionalisation of their staff, he said, and this “has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of applications, which, unfortunately, has overwhelmed our current systems”.

“In response, we are implementing a comprehensive project aimed at addressing these backlogs,” he said, adding that the council would reach out to all those who had posted on LinkedIn.

The body is also updating its application process to make it more user-friendly and streamlined, Mzobe added. “Our goal is to resolve all outstanding applications as swiftly and efficiently as possible as we embark on this new financial year.”

A version of this article also appeared in Research Europe

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