By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa conducted a tour of the facilities at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an entity of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The tour aims to showcase the organisation’s key research areas, which support the development of a capable state and the country’s socio-economic development agenda as set out in the National Development Plan.
Ramaphosa has hailed the CSIR as a “South African success story” as the institution marks 80 years since its establishment.
With the advent of democracy in 1994, the CSIR embarked on a trajectory of aligning itself with the values of our Constitution. The CSIR is a true treasure for our nation,” he said.
The President told the gathering that as the country – and the world – dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, the CSIR stepped in to assist the country in fighting the virus.
During the pandemic, CSIR engineers produced some 18 000 ventilators, which were vital for the care of patients across the country.
It also developed a platform to track the impact of the pandemic, which assisted government to direct its response.
“At a moment of great crisis and danger, it was Minister [Blade] Nzimande who said let’s go to the CSIR, and indeed, we came rushing because you had already developed certain capabilities to help us deal with the crisis not only our country was facing.
“We came in a rush, and you distinguished yourselves as a truly capable facility and centre, and today you have displayed to me and us precisely what you true capabilities are. They range from… having the capability to develop missiles and aeroplanes, and cyber security systems, “Ramaphosa said.
The President called on government to make more use of the CSIR’s capabilities to deliver on South Africa’s developmental mandate.
“In government, we don’t use… the CSIR enough. You are a government owned entity, and you do a great deal of work for others in other countries. We have used you, and you have demonstrated that you are more than capable.
“We are going to have a special Cabinet session where [the CSIR] comes and outlines… precisely what you do and also give us insights on how we can use you. I can’t think of a better way of State capability [building] other than through science, technology and innovation,” he said.
The President further emphasised the institution’s critical role in building State capacity.
“We are one of those countries where, at the advent of democracy, we deindustrialised. The manufacturing base in our country started receding and it is this that we now need to build back.