-
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Ms Nomalungelo Gina.
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina says the collaboration between South African scientists and their global peers remains vital for the advancement of Science.
20 years of SALT – the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere!
Deputy Minister Dr Nomalungelo Gina will deliver the keynote celebrating two decades of scientific excellence & collaboration.
📅 10 Nov | 13:00-16:00 📍 SAAO Sutherland#DSTI #SALT20 pic.twitter.com/4EvL4HrDZO
— DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION (@dstigovza) November 6, 2025
Gina made the remarks during the 20th anniversary of Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) in Sutherland in Northern Cape.
SALT is used to study celestial objects that are incredibly faint, such as distant stars and galaxies.
The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) located in Sutherland in Northern Cape is turning 20 is the largest single optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere . Scientists use SALT to observe distant stars.#sabcnews pic.twitter.com/pRijip9Jbt
— Tebogo Msimanga (@TebogoMsimanga3) November 10, 2025
Deputy Minister Gina says the site did not only discover what science can achieve, but reiterated that it also created opportunities for locals.
“It is exciting when you look at the science sector. What we are doing scientifically and what our scientists are doing in making sure that as we are here, looking at these large telescope, we are understanding the issue of light and do research. But above all, the collaboration we are seeing is for other countries to come and settle here, and come up with such a big establishment when it comes to SALT,” she adds.
RELATED VIDEO | G20 Science Ministerial Meeting | Concern over pollution in the night sky by SKA
