Latest news with #DepartmentofScienceandInnovation
IOL News
03-08-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
‘Women should not only be present in science – they must shape its direction'
This year marks 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global agenda for advancing women's rights which includes their access to education, technology and leadership. Image: Supplied More than 30 years ago, South Africa took its bold first steps into democracy. It was a moment of unprecedented hope, not just for political freedom, but for the transformation of society in all its dimensions. As the country reflects on passing its three-decade milestone, it's an opportune time to assess the progress made by women in science, technology and innovation (STI). While the road has been uneven, the strides that have been made are undeniable. This year marks 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global agenda for advancing women's rights which includes their access to education, technology and leadership. As we mark just over 30 years of freedom and reflect on 30 years of global gender advocacy since the Beijing resolution, we must shift our efforts from a focus on participation to a demand for leadership. Women should not only be present in science – they must shape its direction. That means ensuring that women lead laboratories, policy development, global scientific collaborations, and research and training institutions. It also means rethinking how we define innovation – more value needs to be placed on community-based knowledge, indigenous science and interdisciplinary approaches that centre on people, not just products. To understand how far we've come, we must begin with a pivotal moment in our country's history: the Women's March to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956. On that day, more than 20 000 women of all races and backgrounds marched peacefully against apartheid's pass laws. They stood united in defiance of an oppressive system, carrying petitions and chanting, 'Wathint' Abafazi, Wathint' Imbokodo!' ('You strike a woman, you strike a rock'). That historic act of resistance was not just about civil liberties – it was a declaration of women's power to shape South Africa's future. Fast-forward to today, and that same spirit continues to drive South African women, not just in politics or activism, but in laboratories, tech hubs, industry and innovation spaces. In many ways, the progress of women in STI is one of the quiet revolutions of our democratic era, largely influenced by our policy frameworks that support women in this sector. The National Development Plan 2030, the Department of Science and Innovation's White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation, and the more recent Decadal Plan all advocate for gender transformation and gender-responsive planning as national priorities. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Dr Rakeshnie Ramoutar-Prieschl, Head of Research Capacity Development at the University of Pretoria Image: Supplied Yet structural inequalities persist. Women – especially women of colour – remain under-represented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) leadership roles, with a national representation of a mere 30% of the workforce. Barriers such as unequal access to quality education, limited mentorship opportunities, and gender bias in academia and industry continue to constrain progress. So, how can these systemic challenges be tackled? One of the most effective ways to empower women in STI is through mentorship. Access to mentors helps young women navigate the complex terrain of academia, research and industry, especially in male-dominated environments, such as mining- and engineering-related fields. It builds confidence, opens doors and fosters a sense of belonging. Science outreach efforts in rural and township schools, particularly those that bring in female scientists from similar backgrounds as role models, can have a transformative impact. When girls see someone who looks like them succeeding in science, it fundamentally shifts what they believe is possible. Embedding targeted programmes that focus on raising awareness of women's and girls' rights into school or university curricula can help address some of the societal ills that disproportionately affect girls and women. These include cyberbullying (especially on social media platforms), gender-based violence, exploitative relationships (such as those that involve 'sugar daddies'), and reproductive health and teenage pregnancies, among others. This calls for politicians, governments, higher education leaders, schools and communities to work together to co-create and co-develop inclusive innovation strategies for accelerated change. As we commemorate almost 70 years since the 1956 Women's March, we must remember and honour this defining act of resistance and unity. The women who marched to the Union Buildings were not just resisting oppression; they were demanding a future in which their daughters and granddaughters could be free to learn, lead and innovate. That dream is still being realised, in university labs, coding bootcamps, data science hubs and tech start-ups. But our work is far from done. We must shift from symbolic inclusion to structural transformation: more women in leadership, more equitable funding, more inclusive curricula and sustained support from childhood through to the career stage. The rocks that built this nation must now become the architects of its innovative future. Let us honour their legacy not just with words, but with policies, platforms and partnerships that ensure every girl, from the village to varsity, can rise, lead and transform the world. Dr Rakeshnie Ramoutar-Prieschl, Head of Research Capacity Development at the University of Pretoria
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Court dismisses R27 billion damages claim against Department of Science and Innovation
Durban High Court dismisses man on R27 billion claim against Department of Science and Innovation Image: File The Durban High Court has dismissed a man who is demanding R27 billion in damages from the Department of Science and Innovation. The man represented himself and used jargon and acronyms that the court found difficult to comprehend. Melusi Christopher Ntuli applied for a summary of judgement in this court against the department. A summary judgement is issued by the court without going to trial. His particulars comprised four separate claims and when totaled together they amounted to R27bn. Additionally, the court said his claim for judgement summary was some 921 pages. It also said Ntuli's claim appeared to revolve around two devices: a chargeless electric engine and a PSDC motor. 'The claims are based on the unconstitutionality, illegality, marketing, and infringement of the intellectual property rights (IPRs) due to the respondents' (the department) Grassroots Innovation Programme (GIP),' Ntuli said in his affidavit. Ntuli claims that his intellectual property rights have suffered reputational damages. He said the IPRs have a damaged reputation and has suffered the sum of R5bn. The other claim is that the department had no legal grounds for using the IPRs and therefore it has suffered a loss and damaged reputation of R2bn. Ntuli also said the department was not entitled to promote the electric engine through GIP and said the IPRs have suffered R10bn on damaged reputation. Another claim is R10bn for infringed rights of intellectual property. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'From this whistle-stop tour through the plaintiff's claim, it is clear that he seeks unliquidated damages from the defendant,' Judge Robin Mossop said. He said a claim is liquidated if it is fixed either by agreement or by an order of court, or is capable of swift and easy computation. 'There is no such agreement in this instance on the amounts claimed by the plaintiff, nor have the amounts been determined by a court. It is impossible to calculate how the amounts claimed have been calculated,' Judge Mossop added. Judge Mossop said that if he understood the papers drafted by Ntuli correctly about his claims, it appears that he invented the devices. He said it appeared that Ntuli held intellectual property rights to the devices and that the department had accepted the use of these devices into its programme called GIP. Judge Mossop said he did not understand what a PSDC motor is and what GIP is for, as neither of these was explained. Mossop said the department raised its defences properly. Janse van Rensburg, a State attorney, said Ntuli's claim was not liquidated and said this court lacked jurisdiction to deal with this matter, as Ntuli stated that the department was based in Pretoria. Moreover, Judge Mossop advised Ntuli to seek legal assistance. 'It seems to me that it would be beneficial for him (Ntuli) if he acquires legal advice to help him deal with the difficulties that he is inevitably going to face. If he cannot afford such assistance, I have arranged for my registrar to provide him with the local address of Legal Aid South Africa,' Judge Mossop said. Ntuli was given leave to defend the action, and Judge Mossop said costs were reserved for decision by the trial court.
