The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, says the African continent must change the way it engages with itself and the rest of the world in terms of science, know-how and innovation.
The Minister was delivering his division’s price range vote in Parliament.
He has tabled a budget of more than R10 billion. Nzimande says will probably be spent to advance science, know-how and innovation.
“Africa must change the way it engages with itself and the rest of the world. One of the critical tasks in this respect is the building of what we call a sovereign research and development agenda. By this we mean research and development agenda that is designed, funded and led by Africans. To make this call is not to reject international funding and partnership funding but to advocate for sovereign support that is underpinned by equity and fairness and doesn’t replace domestic and continental investment and innovation in future.”
Some of the political events described this yr’s price range as key in asserting South Africa’s technological function on the planet.
“This budget is about the kind of a nation that we are determined to build. It is about whether South Africa will remain a consumer of import technologies or emerge as a sovereign producer of innovation, industrialisation and scientific advancement,” says Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Lusizo Makhubele.
Inkatha Freedom Party member of Parliament, Sanele Zondo says the price range also needs to help in coping with the unemployment disaster.
“Given our high youth unemployment rate, short comings in service delivery and slow industrial growth, science, technology and innovation must be a vessel for us to do more.”
Democratic Alliance member, Tumelo Ramongalo raises issues about lack of assets for establishments accountable for innovation.
“Of particular concern is that while infrastructure-intensive programmes receive major investment, support institutions responsible for innovation, diffusion, human competitiveness and commercialisation continue to face resource constraints.”
Other political events together with the Umkhonto We Sizwe Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters stated the price range shouldn’t be addressing core points associated to science and know-how.
“There’s a big difference between talking about progress and investing in progress, this budget sounds ambitious but the money behind it is too small to match these promises being made,” says MK Party Member of Parliament, Thembinkosi Mjadu.
Economic Freedom Fighters MP Dr Suzan Thembekwayo has criticised the price range.
“You cannot speak about the future economy while thousands of young science and engineering graduates are sitting at home unemployed. This contradiction ran throughout this budget.”
The Minister additionally stated on 4 July that his division will launch the primary installment of the National Science Month, increasing on what was beforehand generally known as National Science Week.
The DSTI offered its 2026/27 Budget Vote roadmap to Parliament, specializing in inserting science, know-how, and innovation on the coronary heart of our nationwide progress. From AI transformation to the inexperienced economic system, we’re constructing a extra resilient South Africa. pic.twitter.com/MkRtuzSxTo
— DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION (@dstigovza) May 15, 2026
VIDEO | Minister Blade Nzimande delivers the Science, Technology and Innovation Department’s price range vote: