Wits leads quantum technologies initiative

Wits University will manage the project, administer and distribute the funding, while strengthening other research nodes with existing quantum projects the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.

Johannesburg - Wits University is leading a consortium to co-ordinate a national quantum technologies initiative.

The consortium secured R54 million funding from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).

Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Ralehoko and acting Health and Social Development MMC Roland Harris cut the ribbon to start the five kilometre Wellness Walk Against Cancer.

“The idea is to convey the message that cancer can be beaten if we talk about it and make people more aware of it,” Harris said.

SAUAC member Tshepang Luchaba said the event was also a fundraising exercise for the organisation.

“The purpose is to raise awareness around cancer, but most of all the aim is to raise funds so that cancer survivors have financial support for the things they need,” Luchaba said.

One of the participants, Olie Baca shared experiences on cancer effects.

“My sister is a cancer survivor; it was hard watching her lose so much of herself to this disease.

This walk was the best way to raise awareness and show people that they can survive and fight it together,” Baca said.

Following a proposal written by the consortium led by Professor Andrew Forbes of the Wits School of Physics, the DSI committed the first funding up to March 2025, to set up the South African Quantum Technologies Initiative (SA QuTI).

It involves establishing quantum nodes at Wits University, the University of Zululand, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Stellenbosch University and Cape Peninsula University of Technology; eventually increasing the number of centres across the country by finding and supporting new emerging quantum leaders.

Forbes says they managed to convince government that quantum research is too important to leave to a small research group, and that they should invest in a national programme. Forbes codrafted the national initiative document with inputs from all the national nodes, which was adopted by government last year.

“This means we can drive the technology and get many quantum nodes up to scratch. Emphasis is on quantum technology, rather than quantum science. The aim is to develop people who can do something with the science, so that we can be part of the quantum revolution and develop a quantum economy,” Forbes says.

Wits University will manage the project, administer and distribute the funding, while strengthening other research nodes with existing quantum projects. The aim will also be to start and support new nodes at other research institutions.

“This is to eventually have a well-established critical mass in the national quantum community, and to work with government to draft new legislation, where it comes to quantum technologies,” Forbes says.

As an example, new legislation might be needed to govern the use of quantum computers to crack existing bank security codes. In a new quantum world, a bank would for instance not be able to say its systems are secure, if they are not quantum secure.

“The moment quantum computers can crack the code, current encryption systems are going to fail. You will need to have quantum security in place. To play a strategic role in the international quantum community, the national quantum project will not focus on building quantum computer hardware, but on writing software and building apps for quantum computers. It is important to see this not as a physics initiative. We want to involve people with different skill sets so that we can build a vibrant quantum community and a viable quantum industry,” Forbes says.

The funding will have a special focus on human capital development, development of emerging leaders, access to quantum computers, advocacy and support for quantum communications, sensing and metrology deployment through start-up entities.

Over 100 arrested in police operation

Johannesburg - Police from Johannesburg Central cluster stations arrested 112 suspects during crime combating operations with other law enforcement agencies between 4 and 6 November.

In a statement from the office of the district commander police stated that the suspects were arrested around Mondeor, Sophiatown, Brixton, Fairlands, Langlaagte, Booysens, Moffatview and Johannesburg Central area.

“Among the suspects two were arrested for business robbery, two for house robbery, eight for domestic violence, three for armed robbery, five for common robbery, one for murder and 19 for drunken driving.

The rest were arrested for crimes ranging from assault common, assault GBH, theft, fraud, shoplifting, malicious damage to property, possession of drugs, dealing in drugs, selling liquor without a licence, house breaking and undocumented persons,” police said.