Science and technology minister Naledi Pandor must engage with communities surrounding the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) site, says the Democratic Alliance (DA).
DA shadow minister of science and technology, Junita Kloppers-Lourens, says she has confidence in Pandor's commitment to protect the integrity of the SKA site and surrounding areas in the Northern Cape, with all the powers vested in her in terms of the Astronomy Geographic Advantage (AGA) Act, No. 21 of 2007. The site needs to be radio-quiet so the SKA signals meet no interference.
“But, I also called on her to address the concerns of the communities in the protected area, whose lives are being affected in many ways. I brought it to her attention that, after visiting the area, it was clear to me that South Africans in those communities feel neglected and excluded from the benefits that are to be reaped from the SKA.”
Kloppers-Lourens adds that the benefits of the SKA project will be dissipated if proper community consultation processes are not followed.
Community plight
After meetings with groups, leaders and individuals during the past two weeks, the shadow minister says she will write to Pandor to request a meeting to discuss these matters.
“Despite the fact that these community members, as proud South African citizens, fully support the SKA project and are keen to make positive contributions in helping to ensure the success of this remarkable scientific instrument, they have not been convinced that the department is concerned about the potential impact it will have on their lives.”
Kloppers-Lourens also says the minister assured she would take more of an interest in the plight of the communities and would follow up on their concerns.
Open door
The minister's office is forever open to discussions around science and technology, but in particular the SKA, because it's such an important project for SA and for Africa, says department spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele. Pandor has no problem meeting “whoever”, not just about the SKA, but about anything to do with science and technology.
“We are working on a plan to go back to Carnavon when the minister's diary allows and meet with those people that may have concerns.”
Ngqengelele adds that the department has been to the community already and is working on issues that may affect them, because of the SKA.
Telecoms solution
Scientist at the SKA SA office, Adrian Tiplady, recently said the South African initiative has been working closely with the Independent Communications Authority of SA and operators to come up with ways to provide access to telecommunications to people in areas surrounding the SKA site, while still ensuring no interference for the telescope. “These developments have gone very well so far.”
The ICT work, infrastructure and further costs that will be needed for the project will be determined through the design phase.
Digital television advisor to the ministry of communications, Roy Kruger, says with the migration to digital broadcasting, encryption has been a contentious issue.
He added that the service is being launched as free-to-air and so cannot be encrypted. However, in the area surrounding the SKA telescope, the digital terrestrial television system will not be used, but rather a direct-to-home system, which will be encrypted.
Fundamental questions
The SKA project has been split between SA and Australia/New Zealand, with the majority being granted to SA.
SA has eight partner countries for the project - Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia.
The SKA is being designed to answer fundamental questions in physics, astronomy and cosmology in order to understand the origin and workings of the universe better, and to reveal new and unexpected phenomena.
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