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AFRICAN GIANT: Given its unique position in terms of technological advancement, South Africa stands to be the industry leader on the continent. Photo: Freepik
AI

How South Africa can shape the continent’s digital future

As one of Africa’s most industrialised and connected economies, the country is in a unique position to lead by example by building a tech ecosystem that benefits everyone

  • Tracy Tafirenyika
4 min read
The continent must shift from dependency on funding for research to leadership. Photo: Supplied
AFRICAN RESEARCH

Africa must reclaim its research agenda before the world moves on without us

The continent can fund its own research, set its own agendas and lead globally through locally rooted solutions, shifting from dependency to leadership

  • Edwin Naidu
6 min read
Support and funding for research, innovation and entrepreneurship should work in concert. Photo: File
ACCREDITED

Bright idea: SA can have one system for science, innovation and enterprise

If we create one system, we could start seeing as many new products as research papers, and as many new jobs as there are journal articles

  • Fulufhelo Nemavhola
9 min read
UMP Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Internalisation, Professor Aldo Stroebel and Chief Executive Officer of the WRC, Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, sign the MoU between the two institutions. The witnesses behind them are Dr Stanley Liphadzi (WRC), Dr Salmina Mokgethle (UMP), Dr Bongiwe Mcata (UMP), and Dr Naledi Nthite (UMP).
ARTICLE

WRC and UMP sign water and sanitation MoU

The agreement will help Mpumalanga province find sustainable solutions to its water challenges

  • Sabelo Richard Nkosi
13 min read
NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

NRF Women in Leadership

These women are contributing to the advancement of the NRF’s mandate and driving its vision in service of a better society

  • National Research Foundation
17 min read
Nasa, famous for its missions into space, has set its sights on close encounters of a different kind — the Greater Cape Floristic Region at the south-western edge of South Africa.
BIODIVERSITY SURVEY OF THE CAPE

Nasa takes to SA’s skies to map Cape biodiversity

Cutting-edge research will focus on the Greater Cape Floristic Region, which is home to thousands of plant species unique to the area

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Coastal ecologists, engineers and developers must find ways to balance the effects of coastal development, Professor Francesca Porri says – and one of the ways this can be achieved is through ecological engineering practices, harnessing indigenous knowledge. Photo: Supplied
BIODIVERSITY

Traditional African wisdom: A modern answer to protect coastal marine life?

Population growth and increased activity in coastal areas will negatively impact marine ecosystems unless we find sustainable solutions

  • Mduduzi Mbiza
3 min read
The fate of all African countries is bound together. We prosper or suffer sustained underdevelopment together. (Feisal Omar/Reuters)
ACADEMIA

Tawana Kupe: It takes a continent to raise the Africa we want

Collaborating with other universities will assist in dealing with diseases and other social issues that know no borders

  • Tawana Kupe
6 min read
Generative AI, cybersecurity threats, new labour-market demands and accelerated technological change are now reshaping universities. (John McCann/M&G)
4IR

Incentivise the adoption of 4IR technologies

With great rewards for bringing new technologies into different sectors will come great opportunities for South Africa’s economy

  • Tshilidzi Marwala
8 min read
Many drug ingredient makers in China remain shut or have cut their output. This is a huge problem, not only for us, but for all countries worldwide.
ADVANCED PHARMACEUTICAL INTERMEDIATES APIS

Covid-19 leaves SA at the mercy of overseas drug exporters

Scientists are seeking to manufacture key medications in South Africa, saving on costs and shoring up decreased supplies

  • Heather Dugmore
5 min read
Racist theory: Are white doctoral graduates the only ones with quality degrees?
ACADEMIC FREEDOM

The PhD quality debate has racist tones

More students are enrolling in doctoral studies, but gatekeepers are questioning their worthiness

  • Lukhona Mnguni
6 min read
UP has the largest number of nGAP academics of all South African universities. (John McCann/M&G)
COUNTRY

UP actively boosts women professors and researchers

The university has 83 (32.5%) women professors out of a total of 255

  • Tawana Kupe
5 min read
Sars has not met its revenue collection targets for the past two years. (Gallo)
CONSTITUTION

Professor’s mark is on land, democracy

Lungisile Ntsebeza’s research has ignited a movement challenging the authority of traditional councils

  • Staff Reporter
8 min read
It is imperative that we break the silence and change the narrative of black women who enter academic spaces
ACADEMIC RESEARCH

Foreign doctorates are attractive ― but don’t write off homegrown PhDs

There’s strong evidence that, all things being equal, leading South African universities provide “world class” training at PhD level

  • Staff Reporter
5 min read
Ntombizikhona Valela’s pieces on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela fails to acknowledge fails to acknowledge the likely influence of Dr Babalwa Magoqwana.
DR BABALWA MAGOQWANA

Winnie writer ignores key scholar

Ask anyone who was at Rhodes, this specific formulation of uMakhulu was promoted by Magoqwana

  • Sen Muller
2 min read
Unisa’s vice-chancellor Makhanya said the contribution by his management team was in recognition of “the importance of education in the growth and development of our country”.
NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Ghost students created to defraud university bursary system

A Unisa payroll administrator created ghost students and defrauded SAAST, under the administration of NRF, to the tune of R1.7 million

  • Alex Mitchley
2 min read
The Net1 subsidiary’s director, Nunthakumarin Pillay, says in his affidavit that hundreds of thousands of social grant beneficiaries had opted to receive their social assistance in EPE accounts. (Gallo)
MEERKAT RADIO TELESCOPE

For tech to be funded, it must improve lives

Whether it was in the use of satellites to monitor the continent’s resources or precision medicine, we need technology to accelerate development.

  • Sarah Wild
6 min read
In June 2015, Molefe wrote to Optimum stating that Eskom had terminated the settlement process. (Samantha Reinders)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

MPs to get science classes

Political buy-in is vital to science and research, particularly in a constrained economic environment.

  • Sarah Wild
3 min read
Sick system: Mabuti Mphafa pushes his gravely ill wife
ACADEMY OF SCIENCE OF SOUTH AFRICA

Agriculture training in South Africa badly needs an overhaul

To stimulate innovation in the agriculture sector, education and training is in dire need of substantial reform.

  • Staff Reporter
5 min read
For universities, the logic of this governance can perhaps best be described as a form of neomedievalism
GAME OF THRONES

Something rank about ratings

The logic of governance at these institutions is that of neomedievalism in the war of excellence

  • Leonhard Praeg
  • Ulrike Kistner
  • Benda Hofmeyr
5 min read