August 4, 2025
The South African National Space Agency was honoured to host the new Director General (DG) at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Dr Mlungisi Cele on 28 July 2025. It was his first visit to the SANSA in his new role and the warm winter sun complemented the hospitality he received from executives and employees at the Space Operations facility in Hartebeesthoek.
Dr Cele has been visiting all entities of the Department to gather insight and understanding on the work being done and how the DSTI may support and align the efforts with the Decadal Plan, White Paper on Science and Technology, National Development Plan and STI framework. These are meant to ensure that Science. Technology and Innovation (STI) are at the centre of government, economy and the environment.
He received a comprehensive presentation on the projects within the SANSA programmes of Earth Observation, Space Operations, Space Engineering and Space Science with a focus on the deliverables and impact against the policy environment.
Many important areas of focus were raised regarding the national challenges of limited young researchers entering the STEM fields whilst there is a growing number of senior researchers are entering retirement age as well as the effect of geopolitics on the global science sector, amongst others.
SANSA is committed to ensure the establishment of a closer working relationship with the DG and other DSTI teams in order to enable a more agile process of delivery of the SANSA and DSTI mandates.
Further detailed discussions will be scheduled with the SANSA Programmes as the next step to resolving some of the challenges the Agency faces.
