G20 DELEGATES VISIT STATE-OF-THE-ART ASTRONOMY FACILITY IN THE KAROO

As South Africa celebrated Heritage Day on 24 September 2024, the nation's rich cultural heritage was complemented by a showcase of its scientific excellence when G20 delegates from over 30 countries gathered in the Northern Cape for a glimpse of the world's most sensitive radio telescope ever built, the MeerKAT and the Square Kilometre Array-Mid telescope.

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The tour to the site was a collaboration between the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the SKA Observatory (SKAO). The visit underscored the power of research to transform communities and South Africa's growing leadership in frontier science.

DSTI Director-a, Dr Mlungisi Cele, delivered the keynote on behalf of Minister Blade Nzimande, reminding guests that Africa is both the cradle of humanity and a rising force in global knowledge production.

"The SKA is more than a scientific endeavour, it's a driver for socio economic transformation, and a catalyst for developing the next generation of scientists, innovators, and engineers."

Through sustained government investment, the project has created more than 8 800 jobs in the region, channeled millions of rands into small local businesses, and trained over 300 artisans in Carnarvon. Ninety percent of the staff in the Northern Cape facilities are drawn from surrounding communities to ensure that world-class science leaves a tangible local footprint. "This is not just about telescopes," Dr Cele said. "It is about human potential."