Hon Chairperson and hon members of the House, some may want to believe that this thing of stars and astronomy is a western one. However, the bright star
for me lies in a rather star-poor region and is prominent in the summer sky. It is called Ndemara the Sweetheart Star by the Shona and Ntshuna; and the Kiss Me Star by the Batswana. The visibility of this star was supposed to indicate the time for lovers to part before their parents discovered them.
So, as the ANC, we unequivocally appreciate the need to expose children and communities to science, technology and innovation, STI but acknowledge that although people experience and make use of STI in their daily lives, the widespread acceptance and usage of STI is often not realised by our communities and this is sometimes as a result of historical deprivation from access to the sciences. But today we, as South Africa, are in an intergovernmental organisation under international law - hon Paulsen - and host the core of high-frequency and mid-frequency dishes of what would be called the Square Array Observatory while Australia - by the way - hosts the lower-frequency antennas. So ...
IsiZulu:
Singaphezulu maqabane ...
English:
... as South Africa. It is our Southern dark and clear skies that have low radio interference that make us influential in this convention. It is our infrastructure networks of transport, power communications and a strong knowledge-based astronomy that make us, South Africa, influential in this convention. Hundreds of international doctorate researchers have already applied to be part of the activities at the location of the SKA in South Africa and many of them are also Africans and women.
As young people in our country contest the hegemony of western pedagogues in knowledge production and consumption, this opportunity provides immaculate platform for South Africa to be a global leading force in the knowledge researched, produced and consumed on the astrophysics and astronomy. As South Africa, we must seize the opportunity to produce world- leading astrophysicists through this observatory. With the Fourth Industrial Revolution being a big commitment of our government, we must seize the opportunity that the observatory brings for big data production.
The National Development Plan, NDP states that science, technology and innovation must play an increasing role in skills development, job creation and economic growth. Therefore, whilst we acknowledge the historic investments by the SKA through education and employment in the communities of the Northern Cape like Williston and Carnarvon, we must emphasise the importance of this sort of investment taking place while the observatory is put into place.
Our women and children across all races, genders, and ages must be at the forefront of what takes place at this observatory. Therefore, we support the report. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The mini-plenary session rose at 15:44. -----------------------