While the DA supports the shortlist of candidates for appointment to the SA National Space Agency Board, we have reservations about the number of military specialists on the list. When the Minister of Science and Technology considered appointments to the Board, we urged her to wait with her final selection in favour of earth science researchers and communication specialists.
The department's strategy for 2009-10 states that South Africa can be a major contributor and partner in the global space, science and technology sector through this agency. It has mentioned South Africa's growing satellite industry and a range of space innovations has been key to this, as well as our research institutions innovations and earth observation, communication, navigation and engineering.
We heard the Minister in this House yesterday talk about the government satellite that we use to give scientists information that will enable us to better manage our natural resources for the socioeconomic benefit of all South Africans.
We urge her to approach the selection of the Space Agency Board in the same spirit. The first aim of the agency is to promote a peaceful user space. It wants to research space, science, communications, navigation and space physics.
Why then does the shortlist include men whose expertise includes biological warfare, weapons of mass destruction and missile engagements? These are legitimate skills in defence industry application development, but they are not a priority in addressing South Africa's developmental needs. They belong in the private industry, not on statutory boards.
One of these military men has no place on any statutory body and that is Mr M C Zondi, who is a Deputy Director-General in the Department of Defence and a Head of the Defence Supply Chain Integration. Yesterday, the DA wrote to Minister Pandor urging her to drop him from this shortlist as Mr Zondi currently faces an investigation by the SA National Defence Force Inspector- General for tender irregularities. He is also facing a civil suit in Gauteng for awarding a contract without it going out to tender.
We are not associating the other military board applicants with Mr Zondi's action, but we urge the Minster to wait with her final selection on the Board in favour of peaceful users of space technology. [Applause.]