YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE
JUNE/JULY 2016
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JUNE 16
A BAROMETER OF THE STRUGGLE
YEAR’S OF DEMOCRACY
DEDICATING YOUTH
TO THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE
HOW THE YOUTH CONTRIBUTED TO OUR FREEDOM
In conjunction with the Department of Science & Technology
MOVING SOUTH AFRICA TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF INTERNET SAFETY
Department Of Telecommunications & Postal Services CyberSecurity Campaign
MOVING SOUTH AFRICA TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF INTERNET SAFETY
FROM THE The Youth Month edition mainly reflects on 2016 as the 40th year anniversary since the June 16 Soweto Uprising. Our team put this together with a lot of love, care but most of all, a heightened sense of responsibility. This was not just an edition for us. We felt the weight of history with each stroke of the pen. We hope that as you read this edition, you will feel the same inspiration we felt when putting it together, and will enjoy it just as much. We look forward to engaging with you again in August for the Women’s Month edition. Until then, take care !
Tokologo Phetla JUNE/JULY 2016
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REGULARS 04
Ask the Elder!
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Fashion Starter Kit
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Book Review: A South African Nightmare: RAPE
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Updates FEATURES
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I Dedicated my Youth to the Liberation Struggle
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Transformation and Economic Freedom: The Role of White Youth in Post-Apartheid South Africa
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Thrive, Our Beloved Country: Regaining the power of the vote
Publisher Commodore Media (Pty) Ltd www.thecommodoremedia.com Editor Malaika Mahlatsi Art Director Ashley van der Merwe ashley@thecommodoremedia.com (073) 935 0056
COVER STORY 22
Youth and the Land Struggle In post-1994 South Africa
SPECIAL REPORT 26
Budget Vote Fact Sheet 2016/17 REPORT
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Big Data Programme SKA African Partner Countries
Advertising Sales Tokologo Phetla commodore@thecommodoremedia. com 073 684 8874 Contact Information Physical address: 39 Rivonia Road Building 4, Commerce Square Sandhurst, 2196 (011) 268 0179 (073) 684 8874 www.thecommodoremedia.com Printed by Business Print
PROFILE 32
Being a Lady In the 21ST Century JUNE/JULY 2016
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ASK THE ELDER! Good advice and answers to the questions you have.
“The best advice I ever got was that knowledge is power and to keep reading.” - David Bailey 4
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Q A
Is it okay to have an ‘affair’ with someone in the movement and is there such a thing as the “movement-zone?”
MILLENIUM MAGAZINE: From our experience, ‘zones’ exist in almost every community of people where there are opposite sexes – the friend-zone, the fellow-zone, the tutor-zone, the family-zone and more relevant to your question, the movement-zone. After our conversations
Q
Many young people have sacrificed a lot to progress the student revolution – they’ve went to jail, compromised their studies and more. At what point does this self-sacrifice become too much, at what point do you choose yourself over the movement?
A
BUSI MKHUMBUZI: We cannot separate the sacrifices made by students to advance the movement from the movement itself. However, there might be students who take the protest too far. Fees Must Fall is a movement against high fees in South African universities. Students are sacrificing their time and energy to protest because high fees infringe on principles enshrined and fundamental in the constitution - the right to higher education, access, dignity, association and life. Given the extent to which high fees affects students, we cannot attempt to separate the protest (and the things that happen as a result of it) from the advancement of the movement. To begin to do this is to delegitimize the movement and to compromise it of its dignity. However, there might be students in the movement who take the protest too far, in the form of putting their physical bodies on the line, continuing to protest into examinations, stopping certain processes from
with many women who were extensively involved in the student protests, it became apparent that females are able to like a male but not want to be intimate or date the male. Some of the males that were involved in the leadership of the student protests confused this type of ‘like’ with intimacy, and ultimately found themselves getting bat when they tried to go in with their fellow female comrades. So be careful and don’t read into things, the movement-zone exists.
happening, giving up their education etc. Personally, I don’t believe that these students take the protest too far in bad faith - the intention is always to affect those of privilege. But sometimes when we try to affect those of privilege, though seemingly effective, we end up creating unintended consequences which first and foremost affect students of a disadvantaged background. We end up delaying processes in the university that benefit students from accessing the Student Financial Aid office, the Student Clinic, etc. The costs of these fall on students who come from a disadvantaged background - squarely. The protest is then reduced to an isolated group of students who are gambling with the life prospects of other students, with the possibility of them having to further extend their studies; thus creating a further financial burden in the following year. And also hindering the intake of a new cohort of students, many of whom come from a disadvantaged background. We need to always stick to the true values of the movement - which is to make our universities more accessible to students. If we stick to the true values of the movement, we would have asserted ourselves. Some of the males that were involved in the leadership of the student protests confused this type of ‘like’ with intimacy, and ultimately found themselves getting bat when they tried to go in with their fellow female comrades. So be careful and don’t read into things, the movement-zone exists.
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REGULARS
r e t r a t S N O I H FAS YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
1: The colour of your belt must match the colour of your shoes.
2: Stick to black, grey or dark brown socks.
3:
Keep the haircut neat and simple. Don’t try to be too “different.” Sometimes, sticking to the book works in your favour.
4:
Take your smell very seriously. Choose the right cologne and apply just enough of it. I’d suggest once on both sides of the neck and once on the chest area or on both sides of your blazer.
5:
Stick to dark-coloured suits – that is black, navy, grey, purple and even dark green. No matter what you do, just stay away from orange, yellow and gold!
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Kit
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
1: MAKE-UP FOUNDATION
Less is best! Avoid applying too much foundation onto your face. It suffocates your skin by blocking your pores, causing pimples and skin discolouration. When choosing a shade of foundation, most women incorrectly choose a lighter shade. If you need any help when choosing the right shade, contact your nearest beauty store.
2: CHOICE OF SCENT
Smelling pleasant is important to any lady. It shouldn’t be overbearing, subtlety is key. When it comes to your scent, a sweet, sophisticated smell always wins. A great scent leaves a lasting impression.
3: A FLAIR OF FASHION
As a young professional, you already understand the importance of looking presentable. Nevertheless, there is room for fabulous outfits that still make you feel good. Most fashion stores have a working female section with great fashion options.
4: HAIR CARE A women’s hair is her crown. Whether you’re rocking your natural hair, braids or a weave, caring for your hair should never stop. A weekly shampoo and conditioning treatment of your natural hair is important to keep it looking and feeling nourished. Keep an eye out for products with olive oil, tea tree oil, avocado oil and coconut oil as active ingredients because these provide maximum care.
5: APPRECIATE YOURSELF
No matter how gorgeous your dress is or how lovely you smell, make sure that you love yourself on the inside unconditionally and without hesitation. Always adorn your face with a smile and never stop wearing it! JUNE/JULY 2016
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REGULARS
BOOK REVIEW
A South African Nightmare: BY PUMLA DINEO GQOLA
qola’s compelling book contributes greatly to the much-needed discourse on rape. It encourages a conversation that shifts its focus from blaming rape survivors to holding rape perpetrators accountable, a conversation that seeks to dismantle rape culture, and a conversation about how we ‘as a society can change collective approaches to rape.’ This piece was penned by Pumla Dineo Gqola who is an activist, author and associate professor at the University of the Witwatersrand. Gqola notes that the problem is not that there are not currently conversations being had about rape, the problem is that “we ask the same questions, but we don’t really answer them. The discourse is not moving forward. As long as we continue to see rape as isolated incidents, we will continue to be helpless.” The prevalence of rape in South Africa is alarming; it is a “nightmare” according to Gqola’s title. “If we are at all serious about making sense of rape’s hold on our society, we need to interrogate the histories of rape in South Africa,” Gqola writes. First, Gqola researched and dated rape culture back to colonial slavery; this created a better understanding of rape culture in contemporary South Africa - as well as illustrating that rape intersects with racism. Second, she demonstrates the “patterns and trends” of rape. Third, she contextualises rape culture by focusing on several high profile rape cases including the trials of Jacob Zuma, Bob Hewitt, Makhaya Ntini and baby Tshepang. She also focuses on the rape and murder of Anene Booysen - especially looking at the ways in which feminists responded to it. These high profile cases make 8
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us question who society regards as more believable - the rape survivors or the high profile men who are accused of the heinous crime. “The silence we must now break is the silence around the identities of the rapists in our midst.” Gqola elaborates on what she calls “The female fear factory” that silences women. The fear is created through the constant threat of rape. Women are reminded that they are not safe and that their bodies belong to the powerful men who surround them. Because of this, women are forced to be alert to their movements in public and private spaces. In public spaces, men threaten women, relying on language, in particular, as a weapon. For example when a woman expresses the fact that she is not interested in a man’s advances, men respond that “this is why we rape you.” Bystanders who may feel uncomfortable witnessing such exchanges rarely intervene. Gqola states that, “the safety of the aggressor lies in the absence of consequence, in a complicit and cowered audience…” Gqola seeks to debunk some of the common rape myths that exist in society. Examples of these include the misconception that some women are not capable of being raped (ie. married women or sex workers.) Another misconception that is addressed is the understanding that rape is a form of sex. It is not, it is a display of violence. Gqola also points out that avoiding certain spaces in order to avoid rape perpetuated by strangers is fruitless. This is because most women know their rapists. Gqola writes that, “We know who these men are, and when we say nothing, we are complicit with how they spread gender-based violence with our protection.”
“Gqola seeks to debunk some of the common rape myths that exist in society. Examples of these include the misconception that some women are not capable of being raped (ie. married women or sex workers.) Another misconception that is addressed is the understanding that rape is a form of sex.
Gqola further writes that all rape is brutal, regardless of whether a baby or an old woman experiences it. It is wrong to downplay the brutality experienced by women and society needs to stop justifying it by claiming that women who dress in a certain way are asking to be raped. The raping of babies and old women are considered “the worst kinds of rape” Gqola points out that this system of “gradation” lies at the centre of the problem. There is no
significant difference between child rapists and those who rape adults. Rape is rape. This is arguably the most insightful book about rape available at the moment. The author possesses great personal insight but also makes reference to meaningful and useful activism and research. This book is written with a clarity of voice that shifts rape from being a “women’s issue” to one that each of us has a duty to address. JUNE/JULY 2016
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UPDATES
Minister receives the Order of Merit from the German Federal
South Africa is building stronger science and engineering partnerships with German institutions to reinforce our capacities, said Minister Naledi Pandor. Minister Pandor was awarded the Order of Merit from Germany at a ceremony held at the German Embassy in Pretoria on Friday. During her acceptance speech, Minister Pandor said that she had first learned about German science and research after she was first appointed Minister of Science and Technology in 2009. “Together we launched the 2012/2013 German-South African Year of Science to celebrate the scientific collaboration and partnership between our countries. During the year-long series of events joint ventures between institutions in our countries were expanded; science and technology among the young people of Germany and South Africa popularised; and South Africa and Germany were promoted as key locations for strong research-based companies,” said Minister Pandor. The investment last year of the Max Planck Institute in MeerKAT is an outstanding example of how South African scientific and engineering know-how encouraged and enabled German investment. The Minister regretted that Germany’s SKA membership ended in June 2015. “We are collaborating with various German Institutions on SKA,” the Minister added. Economically, the SKA represents the largest science-based capital injection into the African economy by far. The estimated total investment is in the order of €1.5 billion or R15 billion. This 10
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investment will result in a number of immediate and long term socio-economic benefits accruing to the entire continent. South Africa leads scientific research on the African continent but a concerted African effort is required in order to generate a greater investment in science and technology. In Africa many scientists train in our scientific and research academies but we then lose them to high-income countries. The International Organisation for Migration estimates that some 300,000 professionals from the African continent live and work in Europe and North America. There are policies that developing countries can adopt to combat this one-way migration, and South Africa should follow the models used in other countries to foster return migration or circular migration. These models rely on increased domestic investment in scientific and technological innovation. South Africa places great value on forging mutually beneficial partnerships with other countries across the world. South Africa and Germany have finalised a Memorandum of Understanding on a South Africa-German Bilateral Research Chair. This development will contribute to human capital development and marks a significant partnership between our two countries. “Our collaboration with Germany is among our most valued partnerships, and we would like to see it grow from strength to strength,” the Minister concluded.
About the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards
from the most influential community of entrepreneurs in the world. The Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s GSEA is generously supported by Thomas Franchise Solutions. To nominate a student entrepreneur or to get involved, go to www.gsea.org and follow GSEA on Twitter at @ EO_GSEA, like GSEA on Facebook at Facebook.com/EO.GSEA, and subscribe to GSEA on YouTube at YouTube.com/GSEAcompetition.
As the premier global competition for undergraduate students, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) represents more than 1,700 of the prominent student entrepreneurs from more than 37 countries. Built on a mission to inspire students to start and grow entrepreneurial ventures, GSEA brings global visibility to pioneering student business owners. Since 1998, the GSEA, a program founded at the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University, has honoured outstanding students who simultaneously attend university full-time while running their own businesses. The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) took on leadership of the GSEA in 2006 to offer student entrepreneurs access to a global network of mentors, resources and connections
About the Entrepreneurs’ Organization The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a global business network of more than 11,000 business owners in more than 150 chapters and 50 countries. Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO enables small and large business owners to learn from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. The organization’s vision is to build the world’s most influential community of entrepreneurs, which aligns with its mission of supporting entrepreneurial education and engaging entrepreneurs to learn and grow. The Entrepreneurs’ Organization also operates the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), the premier award program for undergraduate students that own and run businesses while attending college or university; and Accelerator, a series of quarterly, high-impact learning events designed to provide top business owners with the tools, knowledge and skills they need to grow their businesses to more than US$1 million in annual revenue. Want to compete? You must be enrolled in an undergraduate program at a recognized college or university, own a for-profit business that has been operational for a minimum of six consecutive months, and be principally responsible for the operation of the company at the time of application. Have what it takes? Compete through local and national competitions to win your shot at going head to head against the best student entrepreneurs in the world at the GSEA Global Finals in May 2017. Apply Now! WWW.GSEA.ORG JUNE/JULY 2016
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SA and UK establish research chairs to strengthen research and innovation
South Africa and the United Kingdom have established the first three bilateral research chairs to strengthen research and innovation capacity between the two countries. The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, and the British High Commissioner to South Africa, Dame Judith Macgregor, launched the research chairs in Cape Town on 4 May 2016. Two of the chairs, at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), will focus on food security, while the chair at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) will focus on political science. Implemented by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the British Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences, the research chairs form part of the UK-SA Newton Fund science cooperation initiative that the two countries launched in 2014. The chairs were awarded to Dr Stephen Devereux at UWC, Prof. Michael John Roberts at NMMU, and Prof. Lawrence Hamilton at Wits. The British Council will fund the food security chairs to the amount of R1,3 million each, while the British Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences will fund the Wits chair to the amount of R1,7 million. These funds will be invested for a period of five years. 12
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Through the initiative, South Africa and the UK will be able to increase the quality and production of Masters and PhD graduates by supporting research excellence in response to key socioeconomic and development priorities. These three research chairs are part of the already awarded 198 research chairs at South Africa’s universities as part of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI), which began in 2006 and is now a R404 million-a-year programme. However, SARChI is not only supported by public funds; it also leverages private funding. For every R1 of public funding towards SARChI, another R2 is invested by industry. The total cumulative public investment between 2006 and 2014 amounted to R1,5 billion. Furthermore, SARChI holders were able to leverage an additional R3 billion from foreign sources, government departments, and private and industry funders. That was a huge vote of public confidence in the public research and development programme. This latest UK-SA bilateral research chairs initiative is the second such initiative, after the global environmental health initiative established with Switzerland last year. The third will be in nanosciences
and advanced materials with Germany. SARChI is aimed at supporting South Africa’s transformation to a knowledge economy, improving the country’s international competitiveness, and strengthening its ability to produce excellence in postgraduate research. Announcing the new research chairs in Cape Town, Minister Pandor said research chairs were vital to South Africa’s future prosperity and would help to encourage the best scientists to work in Africa. While the best scientists had a global choice of where to work, the Minister said that the initiative was one of the best ways to avoid the brain drain to developed countries. “I anticipate that they will contribute to South Africa’s growing importance as a centre of science and innovation excellence, best illustrated by the 2012 decision for South Africa to co-host the Square Kilometre Array giant telescope – one of the largest ever international science projects – and one of the most important partnerships between the UK and South Africa,” she said. Issued by the Department of Science and Technology Enquiries: Lunga Ngqengelele, Media Liason Officer, at 082 566 0446
South Africa’s first prototype hydrogen-powered forklift and refuelling station unveiled South Africa’s first prototype hydrogen fuel cell forklift and refuelling station was unveiled at Impala Refining Services in Springs on 31 March 2016, in an exciting development that will boost South Africa’s hydrogen fuel cell industry. The prototype is a collaborative effort between the Department of Science and Technology, through the HySA Systems Centre of Competence based at the University of the Western Cape, and Impala Platinum (Implats) through its Refining Services operation. Over the past three years, Implats has provided HySA Systems with R6 million worth of funds to enable the development of the prototype. Implats plans to use hydrogen fuel cell technology as the main source of energy powering material handling and underground mining equipment. Speaking at the event, the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, said that fuel cell technologies had the potential to provide access to affordable, safe, clean and reliable energy, and that this is necessary for broad-based economic development and growth in the country. “While the fuel cell market is still in its infancy in South Africa, recent developments indicate a growing appetite for the technology,” said the Minister. Minister Pandor said that South Africa had started to make a number of bold moves that could see it leapfrog to becoming one of the leading countries in hydrogen fuel cell technology installations in the short to medium term. She stated that, “That’s what we are here to make. A bold move. A forklift may appear to be a small move. But great industries have developed from small moves.” The Minister added that industry collaborations were critical in taking research outputs from the laboratory to the market. “To promote further deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technologies, especially in the lucrative automotive sector, public-private partnerships are required to put in place the requisite infrastructure,” she said. In this regard, the alignment of fuel cell initiatives across government would be critical to stimulate the private sector funding necessary to create a viable hydrogen and fuel cell technologies industry cluster. Implats CEO Terence Goodlace commented that, “Developing a viable fuel cell industry in South Africa has several advantages for the country, such as economic development, sustainable job creation and social good. As the world’s largest platinum-supplying region, there is a guaranteed supply of the metal as well as the potential to increase global platinum demand. The development and implementation of
this technology provides an important opportunity for South Africa to play a role in reducing global greenhouse emissions, thus diminishing urban pollutants and contributing to reduced health care costs and an improved quality of life.” The benefits of the metal hydride technology include much longer operational times between refuelling, contributing to a significant increase in productivity. In contrast, diesel and electric forklifts are refuelled daily, negatively affecting productivity. The onboard metal hydride storage also allows for the forklift to operate at a low pressure (180 bar), which increases safety. This is in contrast to most fuel cell vehicles, which operate at 350 bar, requiring a high pressure hydrogen compressor. Typically, these compressors have challenges with high service costs, safety risks and unreliability. Dr Cordellia Sita, Director of HySA Systems, said that, “Fuel cell-powered forklifts are gaining significant traction worldwide, and are now entering mainstream commercialisation. However, the limited availability of refuelling infrastructure, coupled with the challenge of finding the most appropriate on-board hydrogen storage technology, remain big challenges. Through this demonstration project, HySA Systems has addressed both challenges through the use of a novel metal hydride material for both hydrogen compression and storage.” Issued by the Department of Science and Technology. Enquiries: Lunga Ngqengelele Media Liaison Officer 082 566 0446 JUNE/JULY 2016
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FEATURE
I DEDICATED MY YOUTH TO THE LIBERATION
STRUGGLE
here are a number of reasons that I gravitated towards taking a stand and being a part of the liberation struggle. I grew up observing my parents and their constant battles for survival. Even as a child, I was not spared my own share of pain. Like all black South African children, I was caught in the cogs of the merciless Apartheid system. My childhood had simple, free beginnings. I was born in a rural area in the former Transkei and spent my time looking after my family’s livestock. My village was like an extended family but my parents took ultimate responsibility for my upbringing. The political climate meant that they could not simultaneously support me financially and personally look after me. My father worked at Murray & Roberts and came home only in December, while my mother worked as a domestic worker in East London. When I was six years old, my mother and I left the village and moved into a township called Duncan Village in East London. 14
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It was difficult for my mother to earn a living while we were living in Duncan Village because she did not have an identity document or the stamp that was required to allow black people to enter white cities and towns. The municipal police used to raid our township searching for people like my mother who did not have documents. My mother would leave the township early and stay in the nearby fields until the police had left. I was often woken by the rough hands and torch-lights of the police as they searched our home. My mother was eventually forced to leave Duncan Village to search for work and I was left with her friends, who became my foster parents. My situation was dire but I was consoled by the fact that I had the chance to go to school. I had difficulty paying school fees and never had money for lunch. I used to spend lunch periods in the classroom reading, as the sight of the other children eating only increased my hunger. By the time I was in standard 7 (now Grade 9), my foster parents had done all that they could for me and I was left to fend
for myself. I was forced to pay my school fees in instalments and use old books that were lent or gifted to me by the teachers. During the school holidays, I would travel door-to-door looking for temporary jobs. I vividly remember knocking on a door in a white area and having it opened by a small boy. I heard his father ask, “Who is there?” from somewhere behind him. The little boy replied, “It’s a kaffir boy.” His father’s responded, “You must tell him to go away or I will come out and shoot the bastard.” The fact that important subjects such as Maths, Physics and Biology were taught in Afrikaans became a source of unrest during the 1970s. The 1976 riots have gone down in history as one of the worst examples of brutalisation during Apartheid. When Steve Bantu Biko was killed, schools organised boycotts and it was in the midst of this that I was drawn to the liberation struggle. All of the struggles that I faced were caused by Apartheid. I moved from Duncan Village to Mdantsane, the second biggest South African township after Soweto. I was in the township for two years before the 20 month Ciskeian bus boycott of 1983 began. The boycott was spearheaded by the South African Allied Workers’ Union and other organisations that considered themselves part of the Mass Democratic Movement. The inhabitants of Mdantsane used trains instead of buses and it was on my many train journeys that I learnt the necessary discipline, acceptance, and respect for divergent beliefs, upon which the liberation struggle was founded. I found myself distributing pamphlets about the bus boycott. When the boycott ended I found out that these pamphlets had been drawn up by the African National Congress underground structures that had been formed to provide direction to protesting communities. Many members of this structure were detained without trial under Section 27 of the Security Act. I was invited to do aptitude tests for the Post Office and was later offered a place to complete my Technician training at the Post Office College in Pretoria. This position meant that I could earn wages while completing my training. Once qualified, I assisted in setting up similar training structures in East London, Port Elizabeth and Queenstown. Soon workers and trainees were approaching me for advice about how to deal with low pay and institutionalised racism. I started representing aggrieved workers in negotiations with their bosses. It
“I used to spend lunch periods in the classroom reading, as the sight of the other children eating only increased my hunger”
BY: THOBILE
MASO
was at the same time that some of the activist who had been detained in 1981 became active again. When they heard about the way that myself and others were helping workers in the Eastern Cape, we were invited to a meeting in Johannesburg. At this meeting we put together a draft national operation plan and it was as a result that the Post and Workers’ Association (POTWA) was established. POTWA was determined to fight against the oppression inflicted upon black South Africans by the Apartheid system. We underwent training in Germany with other trade union members. The journey to this training took us from Johannesburg to Lusaka to Angola to Malta to Moscow and finally, to Berlin. Armed with this training we were ready to liberate ourselves from the system that tried to keep us down. JUNE/JULY 2016
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FEATURE
TRANSFORMATION AND ECONOMIC FREEDOM
THE ROLE OF WHITE YOUTH IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA e cannot argue away the fact that South Africa is experiencing serious threats and challenges in the form of, amongst other things, corruption, crime, racism, economic downturns, strikes, unemployment, and poverty. Some of these can be linked to the economic meltdown and lack of transformation in the country; however it is important to recognise that the remnants of Apartheid fester like a wound, exposing themselves in the challenges that the youth face in post-Apartheid South Africa. The youth cannot forget that during apartheid, the rights of the black majority were eroded in favour of the protection of the white minority. 16
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The system of racial segregation, enforced through various pieces of legislation, is still the curse of injustice to which non-white South Africans are subjected. This year marks 22 years since 1994 and the declaration of democracy. While many South Africans feel that it is time to move forward from the past, it is necessary to remember that white people continue to hold a position of great privilege in post-Apartheid South Africa. Hear me out. While we are immensely grateful to all those who fought for the political and racial liberation of South Africa, the path to economic transformation and ultimately, freedom, is a long one. As a young, white person, I recognise that I have
a huge role to play in achieving justice for all. Young people grow up in incredibly varied circumstances, with different priorities and perspectives. Most young non-white South Africans grew up in impoverished or underprivileged environments. This is because South Africa’s apartheid history continues to colour the racial and ethnic relations within which we grow up. The Fallism movement currently sweeping South Africa is the perfect example of this. Many young white people describe it as “black against black” because both the protesters and the establishment against which they fight are classified as
‘black.” This illustrates that people are first classified by race and then all other defining characteristics. This is true at all stages of our lives and is called “structural racism.” During Apartheid white people were granted the privileges for which black South Africans now fight. We were given a proper education, and economic freedom that allowed us to realise our potential. Many of us inherited land and wealth from our families, despite the fact that they obtained it unjustly during Apartheid or colonialism. White South Africans need to question whether or not we have a place or the authority to challenge the social revolution within which we now find ourselves. White south Africans need to act for and not against transformation because we were brought up in a system that continues to hand out the oppression experienced during Apartheid. The current revolt by non-whites was spurred because of the power that we inherited from our white ancestors. The role of the white youth in transformation must stem from our willingness to decolonise our minds. I call it becoming divergent, moving away from a path or standard that was spoon-fed to us by our parents and theirs before them. This is the process by which we change the way that we view South Africa. White South Africans cannot only be exposed to our own histories but also the heartbreaking histories of non-white persons. South Africa does not and cannot belong to the white man. We must stop claiming superiority and stepping on the hearts of those who we made to feel inferior. This country needs equality. Franz Fanon wrote that, “Imperialism
“While many South Afrians feel that it is time to move forward from the past, it is necessary to remember that white people continue to hold a position of great privilege in postApartheid South Africa”
BY: VALESKA
ERLANK
leaves behind germs of rot which we must clinically detect and remove from our land and from our minds as well.” Many lingering effects of colonisation and Apartheid impact our communities today. The time has come for young white people to take responsibility for ensuring that transformation is realised. The white South African youth must also engage our non-white counterparts on the issue of economic emancipation. We should share our inherited skills and wealth with those who need it. Further, we must stop coming up with excuses
for the continued minority ownership of capital and instead, advocate for economic freedom. This would be an investment in our own country, it would be the act of embracing the minds of many, it would secure the future, and it would be a start towards rectifying the past. They say that the youth is the future, and South Africa’s future will be driven by the youth’s fight towards economic freedom for all. South Africa might be the final resting place for us all, so we all have a role to play in ensuring that the country’s future is prosperous. JUNE/JULY 2016
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FEATURE
THRIVE, OUR BELOVED COUNTRY REGAINING THE POWER
OF THE VOTE consider the political landscape of this country a disaster. With the municipal elections just around the corner, I find myself confused and frustrated, I find myself contemplating invoking my right NOT to vote in elections. While this would perhaps send a message, many people argue that I should use my vote to ensure competitiveness between the political parties instead. This option leaves me feeling empty and apathetic, especially given the current socio-political needs of the country. While I respect the debate that political parties are able to create, I believe that they lend themselves to the creation of a herd-mentality amongst voters that has the potential to erode constitutionalism. Young South Africans struggle to reconcile giving power to political parties, while these parties dilute our ability to selfgovern. Political parties are constitutionally protected institutions that focus on convincing voters that they have the best vision and plan for the future of the country. Political parties claim to represent the people in order to empower voters. While these sound like admirable motives, political parties are often marred by bureaucracy and internal power struggles. Many leaders put their own, or the 18
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party’s interests ahead of the nation’s. Internal policy development is also influenced by factional politics or funders. All of these things are important to understand when deciding which party to vote for in elections. In order to truly understand the inner workings of the political party that you support, it is necessary to be a card-carrying member. I estimate that the number of people who are active members of these parties represent less than 25% of the total number of voters. That means that 75% of voters either; 1. Understand the policies of “their” party (and other parties’) clearly-enough as non-members, and are making an informed vote. 2. Have a lesser understanding of “their” and other party’s policies, and vote out of historical loyalty or habit. 3. Have a good/poor understanding of the different parties’ policies, and vote with the goal of keeping parties competitive (I’ve often heard this described as the “I vote to keep them honest” approach). I have developed two methods that could be used to reclaim the power of the vote and I’d like to challenge
every reader to assist in the experiment of implementing one of these two methods. METHOD 1: There are many voters who always register to vote, vote in every election, and know which political party they favour. I would like to encourage you, if you fall into this category, to become a card-carrying member of this political party. In fact, I would even encourage you to become an official member of as many political parties as you are able to join. I’d suggest choosing parties that you believe might have some policies that align with your personal beliefs. Being a card-carrying member of a political party allows you to vote for who will hold positions in the executive of the party and in parliament. These are crucial positions that influence the way in which the party is able to represent you. You are able to have a more active role in the administration of the country. The ability to influence the internal policies of a political party ensures that they continue to adapt to your changing socio-economic and political needs. You are also given an inside look at the workings of the party which allows you to make an informed decision about whether or not you believe they would be able to effectively run the country. Making informed votes makes you a responsible citizen. METHOD 2: Recently, there have been calls for greater independent, non-partisan representation in Parliament. This is because many people believe that no one political party is capable of advocating for the entirety of any voters’ needs. People feel that they would be better represented if they could directly elect individual representatives to Parliament and the Executive as this allows for greater accountability and transparency. In order to implement this system, there would have to be a complete overhaul of the voting system that would take a lot of time and legislative change. However, the commitment of these voters to the issue can be measured by making use of method 2. I would like to encourage all voters who do not think that any particular party represents them to register to vote and then spoil their ballot. I believe that this is a more effective form of protest than simply abstaining from voting or voting for an arbitrary opposition party. This would allow us to determine the size of the supporter base for the above legislative changes, enabling us to assess the viability of introducing direct representation in the future.
“Young South Africans struggle to reconcile giving power to political parties, while these parties dilute our ability to self-govern. ”
BY: LUDWICK
MARISHANE Even if we are ultimately unable to introduce the changes needed to bring about direct election, adding roughly 4 million spoiled votes to the voters’ tally would certainly send a message to political parties. A number of this kind illustrates that the people have the power to greatly influence which party has the majority in Parliament if we decide to mobilise together. DISCLAIMER: Note to those who are registered and are planning to vote in the upcoming municipal elections: Please DO NOT CHANGE YOUR DECISION TO VOTE in order to participate in this experiment. Stick with the choice you’ve made, at least until the 2019 elections. Changing your decision to vote now would adversely affect the power distribution of the current elections. The METHOD 2experiment is strictly for those who know that they would not have voted for any of the parties on the roll (if they were intending to vote at all).
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FREE DOWNLOADS OF 2016 MUNICIPAL ELECTION SONG FOR YOUTH MONTH The Electoral Commission has made 50 000 copies of its recently released 2016 Municipal Elections song available for free download from the internet as part of Youth Month celebrations. And the Electoral Commission has also partnered with leading cellular companies and social media platforms to help promote the song and the free downloads. Titled “Sishona Khona” – isiZulu slang for “Go and get it” – the hip-hop styled song is aimed at the youth of South Africa and is intended to encourage participation in the upcoming elections while also promoting political tolerance. The song is available free (including no data charges) to the first 50 000 people to download it from <insert weblink>. Thereafter the download will remain free but users will have to cover any data charges which may apply. Popular social media messaging platforms WeChat and Blackberry Messenger (BBM) have offered to send a message to all their South African users with a link to the download site to help promote the song. And Vodacom and MTN, South Africa’s two leading cellular phone operators, have also made the song available for free download to their users on their music stores. In the spirit of youth empowerment, the IEC commissioned a young and aspirant music production house called Vuthela Production from KwaMhlanga, in Mpumalanga, to write and produce the song for the 2016 Municipal Elections. Vuthela Production is an entertainment organisation formed by producer and entrepreneur Vusi Mabuza with the aim of assisting other young people to realise their dreams in the entertainment business. Mabuza supplied the lead vocals on the song, and produced the song together with crew members Emanuel Masilela,
Alpha Mahlangu, Bafana Mabuza, Zweli Ngwenya, David Masilela and William Maloka. “Songs can be very emotional and young people identify strongly with music. With this song we hope to create a strong affiliation among the youth with the Electoral Commission and voting,” says Dr Nomsa Masuku, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer for Outreach at the Electoral Commission. “In addition, the song encourages South Africans to be aware and respectful of each other’s constitutional right to choose whichever candidate or political party that they desire to lead and govern their wards within their municipalities. “Jingles and music have been used as part of communication initiatives with great effect for many, many years. And with South Africa’s culture of music through all aspects of life – especially civic action and democracy - we hope it will reach young voters – and young-at-heart voters,” said Dr Masuku. Vusi Mabuza said he was especially grateful that the Electoral Commission had put its faith in young musicians and given them a chance to be part of a national event. “We’re so proud that our music is a part of South Africa’s 2016 elections campaign, and we’re thrilled that our music gives the youth a voice even in some small way,” said Vusi. Vusi and his band performed the song live for the first time the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct in Midrand in May. The event was broadcast live on television news channels and was attended by political leaders including President Jacob Zuma as leader of the African National Congress. “We were really excited to play at such a high profile event. Everyone seemed to enjoy the song – now we just hope the public does too,” said Vusi.
MY TOMORROW IS IN MY HANDS Your hands are always sending a message to the world, whether through a tune or a text, or a big thumbs up. This year use them to send a message about the future you want, by voting in the Municipal Elections.
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION ENSURING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS FINAL REGISTRATION WEEKEND For media queries please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386
9-10 APRIL | 8AM-5PM
For media interviews with IEC officials: Please email requests to spokesperson@elections.org.za
For media interviews with theto band pleaseyour contact voting Vusi Mabuzastation of Vuthela Dial *120*432# find Productions on 072 585 1524.
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COVER STORY
YOUTH AND THE LAND STRUGGLE IN POST-1994 SOUTH AFRICA By Valeska Erlank
outh Africa’s youth was integral to the struggle for freedom from oppressive colonial rule and later the racist Apartheid regime. They fought for the liberation of the black population and the return of confiscated land to its rightful owners. Most of the political parties that were formed in South Africa in the 19th and 20th century were created by people of all ages. Young men and women, such as Sol Plaatjie, Pixley ka Isaka Seme and 22
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Dr Abdurrahman Rahman, became important political figures of their time. It was because of the work of people such as these that South Africa transitioned into a democratic state. “The capitalist system presupposes the complete removal of all property from the labourers” In the 22 years since the introduction of democracy, the youth have
realised that their political freedom has not translated into economic emancipation. There has yet to be an economic revolution. Recently, Andile Mgxitima from the Economic Freedom Fighters noted in Parliament that over 70% of South Africa’s land remains in the hands of the white minority. Mgxitima, a young man himself, belongs to the South African political party that places the most emphasis on returning South Africa’s land to its “rightful owners.” After his statement
“IN THE 22 YEARS SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF DEMOCRACY, THE YOUTH HAVE REALISED THAT THEIR POLITICAL FREEDOM HAS NOT TRANSLATED INTO ECONOMIC EMANCIPATION.” in Parliament, the media characterised Mgxitima’s statement as incorrect and misleading. This was despite the fact that Mgxitima sourced his information from Statistics South Africa and the Institute for Land and Agrarian Studies at the University of the Western Cape. Perhaps the reason for the media’s response lies in the fact that it, like the land, continues to be white-owner and white-controlled. The youth responded to this exchange by taking up the battle for the redistribution of South Africa’s land with renewed vigour. Chris Hani, the now-deceased South African Communist Party general secretary and Umkhonto we Siwze leader, famously declared that, “Comrades, we’re making no mistakes as a Communist Party xasithi, umhlabamawuhlulwe so that our people can have access to the land”. Inspired by these words, South Africa’s youth has set out to raise awareness about the landlessness of the black majority using social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The campaign dubbed #BringBackTheLand has spurred debate amongst the landless and landowners, and has even resulted in a few collaborative projects between the two groups. Social media has also been an educational tool and has assisted to garner support for rallies, marches and strikes. The political response to the issue of land redistribution has varied greatly. The liberal Democratic Alliance advocates for what it calls a 50-50 equity share scheme. However, its
youth league has not participated in the various efforts to ensure the redistribution of land to black South Africans. Disappointingly, the African National Congress Youth League have not announced their stance on the #BringBackTheLand campaign and as such, have failed to leverage the influence that they have over the ruling party. The Youth League has merely stated that it supports the return of land to black South Africans but has yet to take practical steps, such as implementing policy and securing funds, to ensure the return of land to those who were dispossessed during colonialism and Apartheid. Clarence Makwetu, former president of the Pan-African Congress, stated that, “We are fighting for our land and that land is in the hands of the oppressor. In other words, the struggle can’t stop until we attain our goal.” The newly formed Economic Freedom Fighters, whose leadership is predominantly made up of young South Africans, have taken it upon themselves to continue the struggle that people such as Jeff Mothopeng and Clarence Makwetu started. This is because the goal has not yet been achieved. The EFF argue that all commercial land should be placed in the custody of the state and that South Africans, in turn, should then be allowed to lease it from the state. They further hold that the state should subsidise home loans for the working class to ensure their access to residential land. The EFF has gone so far as to encourage the inhabitants of Mamelodi,
Soshanguve and Khayelitsha to occupy unused land. Captain Thomas Sankara declared that, “You cannot carry out fundamental challenges without a certain amount of madness. In this case it comes from nonconformity, the courage to turn your back on the old formulas, the courage to invent the future.” The youth has started participating in land occupation as the final way in which they have realised the struggle for land redistribution. The media dubs this form of action “illegal occupation” and the organisation best known for it is called Abahlali Basemjondolo. This organisation was formed by S’bu Zikode, Mazwi Nzimande and Bandile Mdlalose and purports to have over ten thousand supporters in 30 settlements across South Africa. Several members, such as young Thuli Ndlovu, have been assassinated, sometimes at the hands of African National Congress ward councillors. The role of the youth in the struggle for land redistribution has taken many forms. From social media campaigns, to the formation of political parties, to the joining of social movements, such as Abahlali Basemjondolo, the youth continue their fight despite the threats of violence and actual maltreatment to which they are constantly exposed. Se mpone temanannyane go lema ke a lema, Ke itlhokela peu ya go bjala. For confirmation of the story of Thuli Ndlovu see: http://abahlali.org/node/15605/
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ADVERTORIAL
CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN LEADERSHIP 1. LEADERSHIP e define leadership broadly as actions taken to move (preferably without coercion) a person or persons towards a goal. This emphasises that to act as a leader, does not require authority or a formal position. It emphasises the fact that in societies, communities and organisations, change is often the result of people taking action who do not have formal authority, but who do so because of personal conviction. Unless a person is willing to act on the basis of personal conviction to influence others, it is difficult to see how he or she will become an effective leader. It is emphasised that: • leadership is a relationship between people and therefore has moral and ethical implications; • that leadership is an ongoing process, and not a position or event; • that leadership should be free of coercion. 2. THINKING ABOUT LEADERSHIP Leadership is a function of the broader context within which it takes place, the person who acts as leader, the roles performed by the leader, and the nature of the collective within which the leader functions. But above all, leadership entails action, getting things done. Context refers to the global, regional, national and cultural settings within which leadership takes place. These factors influence what leaders are required to do if they wish to lead effectively. In a global, regional and national context, we are living in a time of change and discontinuity. These conditions require leaders who can lead change, and help find innovative ways of addressing problems. It also requires leaders who can translate such innovative solutions into real results, as opposed to just talking and theorising about principles. Leadership also takes place within a cultural context, and should build on the strengths of a culture and draw from it the energy for action. However, in changing times cultural 24
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practices and values cannot be adopted blindly. There is a need to examine them and the ways in which they can be applied in a changed world. Cultural factors are expressed in the ways in which individuals behave and interact with each other. The leader brings to leadership his/her personal history of development, characteristics, abilities, assumptions, beliefs and values. Leadership is a reflection of these personal elements, some of which will enhance leadership performance, and others which will detract from it. Leaders must be aware of these characteristics in order to grow and develop as leaders. Without the willingness and openness to learning; and the acceptance of personal responsibility for his or her life and its contribution to the collective, a person is unlikely to be an effective leader. The role of the leader can be conceptualised as consisting of a number of broad roles which, if performed effectively, contribute to effective collectives. Would-be leaders must be aware of these roles and what they require in terms of leadership action. While these roles are broadly similar depending on the nature of the collective being led, there are differences of emphasis and the relative emphasis on competencies. The leadership we propagate in an African context can be described as “time competent, inclusive, innovative, value based and transformational”. It requires leaders who have accepted personal responsibility for their actions, with a commitment to the collectives they serve, and who cultivate the personal values and abilities that are needed for such leadership. Time competence refers to the ability of the leader to deal effectively with the past, present and the future. A leader without a persuasive account of the past and African communal roots, without an explanation of the present and the ability to invent a preferred future constructively, is unlikely to be effective as a leader. All leaders face the same problems, viz. who we are, how did we get here, where do we want to go, why should we go there and what do we
need to do to get there. These remain pertinent questions. Inclusive refers to our interdependency, Ubuntu, and the belief that I am because you are. Inclusive collaboration, which goes beyond participation towards co-existence, is fundamental to our African rooted leadership. The effective African leader looks for commitment from people, rather than compliance and relates to people in intuitive and empathetic ways. Commitment is necessary if people are to use their initiative, and share responsibility for achieving the vision. This leader depends on persuasion, on conceptualising the desired future and is at ease with risk as opposed to the concern with predictability. Cooperation, compassion, respect for the dignity of persons and communality in a virtuous society are important. Innovation in a continuously evolving context creates much space for reconfiguration options. The expanding knowledge base, both descriptive and normative, allows us to re-discover what it means to be African and to create new frames of reference for effective leadership. Action is an important part of innovation, the other side of the same coin. Leadership, therefore, implies action-based “learning” and a process of constructive discovery. The Value base of leadership provides the motivation and much of the answers to the where to, why and how questions. Leadership is mostly an expression of who we are. Authentic leadership action is grounded in our value and belief systems and as such rooted in our African identity. Both ethical/moral and competence values freely chosen and supported by our actions determine authenticity. Transformational leadership emphasises the future seeking/creating activities of leadership, which go beyond managerial/transactional behaviour. A greater awareness about issues of consequence in a mostly uncertain future is required. This heightening of awareness requires a leader with vision, self-confidence and inner strength to argue successfully for what is seen to be right or good and not for what is popular or acceptable according to established wisdom of the time.
interpersonal competencies and cognitive abilities. The interpersonal and cognitive abilities that a person acquires are influenced by the way he or she views or conceptualises the leadership role or roles. It is useful to think of the role of the leader as consisting of four broad sub-roles, namely: • Providing direction. The emphasis is on the leader through inclusive participation developing a vision/ mission to get the collective to adapt to the changes facing it. The ability to see the changes that an organisation, country, society or community will face, and acceptance of the responsibility to face up to it, is important. The envisioned future must connect with the values and emotions of the collective. • Aligning the collective. The leader must ensure that practices, culture and values within the collective support the vision and mission, and not work against it. • Building a productive community. The leader has to tap into people’s talents and commitment in order to realise the vision/mission. This entails involving people in decision-making, promoting cooperation, and developing the competencies required to carry out the collective’s work. • Insisting on results. The leader must ensure that the collective translates the vision/mission into a virtuous reality. Our deeds determine our destiny. A FINAL WORD… Our assumptions, beliefs and values about the world, that is our “mental models”, determine both how we see, feel, and think about ourselves, and consequently perform the leadership role. Effective contemporary African leaders understand with their minds and their hearts that they are part of a “community of leaders” allowing space for contributions from others and celebrating the collective rather than individual successes. The authentic leaders’ being, thinking and doing are simultaneously a part and the whole of our African existence.
3. LEADERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP ROLES Central to leadership is the person. “Who I am.” Our abilities, assumptions, values and beliefs, and our courage to live according to them, that is, to translate them into action, determine how effective we will be as leaders. In order to perform the leadership role, the person needs JUNE/JULY 2016
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SPECIAL REPORT
BUDGET VOTE FACT SHEET 2016/17
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUDGET GUIDE FOR THE 2016/17 FINANCIAL YEAR STRATEGIC OVERVIEW he National Development Plan recognises the crucial importance of science, technology and innovation in accelerating South Africa’s socioeconomic development. To make South Africa a more globally competitive economy, both government and industry will need to increase radically the scale of innovation. The National Development Plan also recognises that advances in technological innovation, the production of new knowledge, and the application of knowledge and research collaboration are vital for a thriving economy. It is in this context that the Department undertook its planning for the 2016/17 financial year. The strategic outcome-orientated goals expressed in its 2015-2020 Strategic Plan are aligned with the National Development Plan and government priorities set out in the Medium Term Strategic Framework, the New Growth Path, the Industrial Policy Action Plan and the Nine-Point Plan. Science, technology and innovation, along with water, transport, infrastructure and information, and communication technologies, cut across the Nine-Point-Plan. The Department steers the national system of innovation to contribute to specific areas of this plan. Examples are the revitalisation of the agriculture and agroprocessing value chain; increasing the impact of the Industrial Policy Action Plan; the beneficiation of mineral wealth; unlocking the potential of small businesses, cooperatives, and rural and township enterprises; growing the oceans economy through Operation Phakisa; resolving the energy challenge by advancing alternative energy sources, and scaling up private sector participation in research and development. 26
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The Department has put in place several specific strategic interventions that are intended to increase the capacity and contribution of the national system of innovation to South Africa’s economic growth. With the budget for the 2016/17 financial year at R7,4 billion, the focus for this year identifies human capital development, knowledge generation, infrastructure, and global and African collaboration as priority focus areas over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework period. The Department will continue to focus its investments on research and development, promoting innovation, and building the country’s knowledge economy to improve productivity, health systems, education and infrastructure. This will include research infrastructure grants to researchers and institutions across the innovation value chain (e.g. for pilot plants, technology demonstrators and specialised facilities); the establishment of new technology service platforms, such as the bioinformatics service platform to service the life science sector; and agro-innovation hubs to connect researchers and rural communities. Sustainable growth in South African will require a transformed and fully utilised human capital base. To this end, the Department will ensure that at least 80% of postgraduate students receiving support through the National Research Foundation (NRF) bursary programme are black, 55% are women and 4% are people with disabilities. Guidelines are in place to achieve this through the bursary and research support programmes, and the efficacy of these guidelines will be monitored and evaluated annually to ensure the realisation of these goals. Nurturing the human capital pipeline requires that society appreciates the benefits science, technology
and innovation can bring, and that learners and students are attracted to pursue careers in related fields. The Department’s Science Engagement Framework provides an outline for the alignment of the efforts of all its entities and partners to maximise the impact of efforts to raise awareness. In the period ahead, the Department will be exploring the feasibility of establishing a flagship national institution to support science. Some key priorities in 2016/17 Government has set the target of raising gross expenditure on research and development to 1,5% of GDP by 2019 from the current level of 0,76%. Modelling exercises undertaken by the Department show that in order to reach that target, additional investment of R115 billion is required. The investment should come from both the public and private sectors, and the Department’s contribution over the medium term will be R13,2 billion. This is budgeted for in the Research, Development and Support programme, and constitutes 58% of the Department’s total expenditure. R2,1 billion of this, or 16%, is transferred to the National Research Foundation to ensure the completion of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) demonstrator project. The SKA will be the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope. The key economic benefit from this investment will be the leveraging of foreign direct investment from the SKA Organisation for construction costs, estimated at €650 million for phase 1 (2018 to 2023). The National Development Plan acknowledges that economic growth is a longer term project and that the key role that innovation plays should increase incrementally. Over the medium term, the Department will focus on South African innovation for energy security, poverty alleviation and health care funded through the Technology Innovation Programme, which is allocated R3,2 billion, or 14% of the Department’s total budget over the medium term period.
and services that contribute to quality of life in South Africa. The Department aims to position bio-innovation as a mechanism for achieving government’s industrial and social development goals, guided by the Department’s 2013 Bioeconomy Strategy. R436 million, budgeted for under the Technology Innovation programme, is allocated over the medium term for bio-innovation in the health, agricultural and industrial biotechnology sectors. In addition, R45 million over the medium term is transferred to the South African National Aids Council for HIV initiatives. Expenditure financing Funding is allocated to the DST by National Treasury as part of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework. For the 2016/17 financial year, the DST received R7,4 billion. The table below shows the resources allocated to the DST over the 2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework period: Financial year Budget (R billion) 2016/17 7,4 2017/18 7,6 2018/19 7,8 The Department also receives official development assistance from other countries through various funding instruments. FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE The DST’s total budget for the 2016/17 financial year is R7,4 billion. The chart below shows how this is divided between the Department’s five main Programmes, which represent various core focus areas.
In line with the Intellectual Property Rights from the Publicly Financed Research and Development Act, 2008, the Department will ensure greater economic and social returns from intellectual property generated from innovation activities using public funds. Through the National Intellectual Property Management Office, the Department will transfer R90,1 million over the medium term, including increased funding of R75 million over the period, to the National Intellectual Property Management Office, which ensures that publicly funded intellectual property is used to create products, processes JUNE/JULY 2016
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SPECIAL REPORT
Research Development and Support receives an allocation of R4,2 billion. Among other things, the Programme aims to contribute to the development of demographically representative, high-level human capital by increasing the number of postgraduate research students awarded bursaries through the NRF to 42 396 over the medium term; ensuring that South Africans have access to internationally comparable research and innovation infrastructure by maintaining the number of researchers awarded research infrastructure grants at 70 per year over the medium term, and by increasing the availability of bandwidth per South African National Research Network site from 3 500 Mbps in 2016/17 to 8 000 Mbps in 2018/19, which will assist in providing more efficient transmission of data to all research and academic institutions and national projects; support and promote research that develops basic sciences through the production of new knowledge and relevant training opportunities by maintaining the number of articles published by researchers funded by the National Research Foundation at 13 617 over the medium term, and by maintaining the number of articles published by researchers funded by the National Research Foundation and accredited by the Institute for Scientific Information at 21 000 over the medium term; strategically develop priority science areas in which South Africa has a competitive advantage by increasing the total number of MeerKAT antennas installed to 64 in 2016/17 and ensuring that a functional climate change research network is in place, with two reports on the state of climate change in South Africa approved by 2018/19. Socio-economic Innovation Partnerships receives R1,8 billion and will spend it on supporting the development of science and technology-based innovations for tackling poverty, including the creation of sustainable jobs and sustainable human settlements, and the enhanced delivery of basic services; providing policy, strategy and direction setting for the research and development-led growth of strategic sectors of the economy, and support 28
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for the transition to a green economy; leading and supporting the development of indicators and instruments for monitoring investments in science and technology and the performance of the national system of innovation, as well as ways of strengthening policy in relation to the system; and funding technology and innovation development programmes to advance strategic medium and long-term sustainable economic growth and sector development priorities, as well as public service delivery. Technology Innovation receives an allocation of close to R1 billion to spend on leading, informing and influencing policy development in strategic focus areas; coordinating and supporting research and skills development in space science, renewable energy and the bioeconomy; and promoting the development, commercialisation and legal protection of scientific research and development outputs, processes and services. Some of these objectives are carried out through the Technology Innovation Agency and the National Intellectual Property Management Office. : www.dst.gov.za Administration receives R304 million for the overall management of the Department and to ensure that organisations funded by the DST comply with the standards of good corporate governance and align their activities with the strategic focus of the national system of innovation. International Cooperation and Resources receives an allocation of R125 million to use for increasing the flow of international resources into the country for science, technology and innovation-based socio-economic development; increasing the exposure of South African researchers and students to global knowledge and science, technology and innovation networks; contributing to the global science, technology and innovation discourse and policy through regional, continental and global initiatives; supporting capacity development in Africa to develop the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge-based
economy; and increasing the participation of South Africans in international human capital development opportunities. PARLIAMENTARY GRANTS FOR ENTITIES REPORTING TO THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY The National Research Foundation (R883 million) supports and promotes research through the funding of human resource development and the provision of facilities to enable the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including indigenous knowledge systems. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research receives R872 million to foster industrial and scientific development, particularly through multidisciplinary research and technological development, either by itself or in cooperation with public and private sector institutions. The Human Sciences Research Council (R290 million) undertakes, promotes and coordinates policy-relevant, problem-oriented research in the human and social sciences, including research projects for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies in partnership with researchers all over the world, but particularly in Africa. The Technology Innovation Agency (R382 million) stimulates and intensifies technological innovation in order to improve economic growth and the quality of life of all South Africans. The agency is key in ensuring the translation of the research and development outcomes of higher education institutions, science councils and public entities into commercial technology products and services, thus intensifying the impact of innovation on the economy and society.
independent scientific thinking; promoting the optimum development of the intellectual capacity of all people; and providing effective advice and facilitating appropriate action in relation to the collective needs, opportunities and challenges of all South Africans. The South African National Space Agency (R125 million) promotes the use of space and cooperation in spacerelated activities, while fostering research in space science, advancing scientific engineering through developing human capital, and providing support to industrial development in space technologies. In addition to the parliamentary grants, the DST entities implement departmental projects through project funding. NRF R883 million SANSA R125 million ASSAf R23 million TIA R382 million HSRC R290 million CSIR R872 million Department of Science and Technology Building 53, Meiring NaudĂŠ Road, Scientia Campus, South Gate Entrance, Brummeria, Pretoria, South Africa Private Bag X894, Pretoria, 0001 Tel: +27 (0)12 843 6300 Fax: +27 (0)12 349 1030 Website: www.dst.gov.za
The Academy of Science of South Africa (R23 million) carries out its mandate of promoting common ground across all disciplines; promoting innovative and JUNE/JULY 2016
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REPORT
BIG DATA PROGRAMME SKA African Partner Countries
he Square Kilometre Array (SKA) African partner countries are led by South Africa, and include Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia. This partnership has started building the capability to process, store and disseminate data produced by telescopes such as KAT7, AVN and others. Senior officials met at Misty Hills, west of Johannesburg, ahead of the annual SKA Africa Ministerial meeting which took place on 15 April 2016. Up to now, the scientific focus has been on increasing telescope infrastructure in partner countries, but this alone is not helpful unless the partners are able to put the data collected from telescopes to scientific use. The partner countries hope to train African students, researchers and scientists to effectively use the data collected. They also aim to collect new data from AVN observatories, the first of which is being built in Ghana. 30
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Scientific data gathered from telescopes can be shared using research data networks. This work can also be linked to, and shared with, various regional efforts that aim to create high performance computing competence, such as the Ubuntu-net Alliance. According to Dr Happy Sithole, Head of the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) in Cape Town, who presented at the senior officials’ meeting, the focus of the Big Data Africa Programme (BDAP) is to develop high-performance computing capabilities in partner countries. The BDAP consists of three main components, namely: High Performance Computing, Data Infrastructures for SKA Africa, and the Newton Fund AVN Programme. The CHPC has been engaged on developing High Performance Computing (HPC) capabilities in Africa and progress has been realised through: • Creating discussion forums to develop an African Framework
on HPC. These discussions culminated in a SADC HPC Framework that has been adopted by the Science and Technological Ministerial Committee; • Enabling African researchers and students to access HPC training programmes in South Africa; • Providing researchers with access to HPC facilities on the continent, which allows them to pursue research in various science and engineering domains; • Partnering with the Texas Advanced Computing Centre and the University of Cambridge, who provided parts of the HPC systems to African countries in order to assist in developing computing capabilities. Currently, Botswana, Zambia, and Mauritius have received
parts of the clusters and representatives from these countries have undergone training in building and operating these HPC systems. The CHPC will be focusing their intervention on data processing capability, skills and data analysis tools, whilst the partner organisation, South African Research Network (SANReN), will develop interventions that address the connectivity challenges that partner institutions face. This will be crucial in allowing African partners to rollout and operate the SKA, and may also allow their citizens to benefit through participating in scientific investigations and supporting infrastructure. JUNE/JULY 2016
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PROFILE
BEING A LADY
IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Throughout history women have been concerned with the notion of being “ladylike” or “womanly”. The practices of being elegant and speaking eloquently have become more confusing than appealing given the freedom that now exists for us to be truer and more relaxed versions of ourselves. he influence that the media has had on our ideas and expectations of ladylike tendencies has been immense. Social media platforms have also redefined the qualities associated with being desirable and respectable, instilling new expectations in both men and women. The new secondary and tertiary education curricula have allowed us to explore various English literary classics. Literature written by women such as Dr Maya Angelou, Emily Bronte, and Toni Morrison, have exposed us to the complex issues that women have faced throughout history, and often continue to face. Many of these pieces grapple with issues of skin colour and class classification, and examine the belief that women merely aspire to be adorned with male attention and be revered by those around them. If the ideals espoused in these works are transplanted into the 21st century, they can be oppressive in their search for perfection. Religion is another social factor that influences our understanding of what it means to be a lady. Religious texts dictate the way that women should dress, the kind of language that they should use, and what life choices are expected of a lady. The qualities and values attached to being a good serving Christian lady have created unrealistic and repressive expectations. Social media has gone some way to redefine and counter-act the above classical narratives. The beauty and rawness of the poetry that women share amongst themselves has created a safe haven for those who do not subscribe to any prescribed definition of womanhood. Women have been able to express what they believe defines their identities and this act of reclaiming power and autonomy has been uplifting. There is a place for all women on the new spectrum of morality. A discussion of 21st century womanhood would be incomplete without addressing the plight of transgender women. The road towards the acceptance of transgender women by cis-gendered ones is long and has, thus far, been tarred with disappointment. Inclusion and acceptance of those who are different from us is a crucial part of increasing society’s general state of happiness. Our continued failure to accept transgendered individuals exemplifies society’s ignorance, prejudice, and fear of the unknown. Due to society’s historic oppression of women through the denial of equal pay and employment opportunities, and lackluster legal responses to the problems of rape and mental health, the feminist movement has gained traction and importance. However, some aspects of this movement have become oppressive in and of themselves. The movement prescribes what it means to fight for 32
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equality with men and any woman who fails to meet this standard is shunned as being “weak” and “not a real feminist.” The meaning and place of feminism is becoming more and more confusing everyday and the internet only compounds the problem. The world that we live in exists in extremes. Some feminists believe that chivalry needs to be wholly eradicated. It is considered weak to expect men to open doors for women, or spoil them with gifts and holidays. Feminists believe that these gestures should not be allowed to brighten our days because women should be responsible for their own happiness. On the other hand, fiercely independent women are stereotyped as being sad and lonely, and owning far too many cats with names like Robert Frost and James Baldwin. Society tells these women that they need to have a relationship in order to be happy. This means that they should lower their standards and settle for the first good guy who comes their way. There are just far too many rules and expectations. It is nearly impossible for women to be authentic and true to themselves anymore. While women might have a lot of commonalities, we are all different individuals. In order for us to live truly fulfilling lives we need to embrace our differences and allow them to bring us closer to one another. Women should be allowed to create their own definition of what it means to be a lady. We live in a time that exposes us to different information all the time. It’s an exhilarating but terrifying era. Women should use the information that we have access to, to become enlightened and inclusive. Solidarity is something that we can, and will explore together. Until next time: be the version of yourself that you value most and trust her to take flight and soar towards greatness.
SKA SA
BURSARIES AND CAREERS The SKA South Africa Project, including the MeerKAT telescope, is one of the biggest science and engineering projects in South Africa. The SKA therefore represents an unrivaled opportunity for the development of very high level skills and expertise in Africa. This will allow Africa to be a significant contributor to the global knowledge economy. SKA technologies include, amongst others, the construction of large precision structures using modern composite materials, novel designs for wide-band antennas and receivers, highspeed digital signal processing and transport, reconfigurable and parallel computing platforms, and low-cost, high reliability control and monitoring systems for large scientific infrastructures. In 2005 the South African SKA Project initiated a targeted “Youth into Science and Engineering
Programme” to develop highly skilled young scientists and engineers. The young people supported by this programme will serve South Africa, and our African partner countries, in the future in key areas of economic development in addition to their participation in “blue skies” scientific research. The programme offers comprehensive bursaries to students in engineering, mathematics, physics and astronomy at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Bursary holders benefit from regular workshops and student conferences, where they interact with the world’s leading astronomers. To date, about 600 (2014) students have benefited from SKA South Africa bursaries and scholarships, including many students from other African countries. Bursaries go to physics and engineering students and a special effort is made to attract women and black students to these fields.
Visit www.ska.ac.za to see our bursary and career opportunities.
In conjunction with the Department of Science & Technology
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75 YEARS OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
OF IN
AL DEVELOPM DUSTRI ENT SINCE 1940
For 75 years, the IDC has been committed to leading industrial development in South Africa. It is this commitment that has enabled us to grow key industries and facilitate job creation, ensuring a positive contribution to the growth of our economy. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an entrepreneur and have a business plan that is relevant to an industry that the IDC supports and require funding of R1 million or more, take the lead and make history. Call us on 0860 693 888 or visit idc.co.za to learn more about the funding criteria for the sectors that the IDC supports.