The Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow minister of science and technology, Marian Shinn, has called for the publication of the full report on the suspension of SA Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) director Phil Charles, earlier this year.
The report, by National Research Foundation (NRF) board chairperson Belinda Bozzoli, was commissioned by science and technology minister Naledi Pandor following Charles' suspension from the NRF in January. He was subjected to a disciplinary hearing but the charges were never made public, and he was later cleared of any wrongdoing and re-instated in his post.
This report has been completed, but Bozzoli says it remains confidential.
Shinn argues South African citizens need to see the input from the numerous scientists, organisations and individuals on the circumstances surrounding Charles' hearing, the impact it had on SA's international scientific relationships, and the steps being made to ensure such a debacle does not recur. All this should be in the report, she says.
According to Shinn, Pandor has made available a summary of the recommendations made by Bozzoli to the SAAO executive, the chairperson of the portfolio committee, and herself. “This is not enough. We need to understand the context in which these recommendations were made,” says Shinn.
She adds that the public availability of the report will also help identify whether any of the NRF's executive management should be held accountable for instigating the suspension and hearing of Charles, and whether disciplinary steps should be taken against this individual or individuals.
Shinn argues there should be a public release of the charges made against Charles, so there can be no further innuendo and rumours about what he was alleged to have done.
Furthermore, there should be a process to determine the best management model for SA's international scientific relationships, she says. This should include, or perhaps even be led by, impartial international scientists. “This will ensure that bureaucratic impediments and political agendas do not trump the practice of science to the best international standards.”
The Department of Science and Technology told ITWeb it is up to the minister to release the report, as she is the one who commissioned it. “At the moment we cannot say anything about the report until the minister releases it,” the department said.
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