The Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, will visit the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) site in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape on Saturday, 28 February 2015.
The Deputy President will be hosted by the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor. The visit will also include ministers from the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Committee, as well as senior officials from the Departments of Trade and Industry, International Relations and Cooperation, Public Works, and Tourism. Other dignitaries expected to join the Deputy President are the ambassadors to South Africa of Germany and the United Kingdom, the Premier of the Northern Cape, and the district and local mayors.
As a precursor to what will be the world's biggest and most sensitive radio telescope, South Africa is building a 64-dish radio telescope, called the MeerKAT. When finished in 2017, the MeerKAT will be the largest radio telescope in the world and most sensitive radio telescope of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, until the completion of the SKA.
The visit by the Deputy President will provide the Department of Science and Technology with an exciting opportunity to showcase the MeerKAT.
The Deputy President will also get an opportunity to interact with some of the members of the community from the areas surrounding the SKA site.
Media are invited.
Date: Saturday, 28 February 2015
Time: 08h00 – 13h00
Venue: SKA site in Carnarvon
There are tight security measures, and only a limited number of journalists will be allowed to attend the event. We therefore request interested media to RSVP before 12h00 on Thursday, 12 February 2015 to:
Veronica Mohapeloa at 082 882 3818 or Veronica.Mohapeloa@dst.gov.za or David Mandaha at 072 126 8910 or David.Mandaha@dst.gov.za
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele, Media Liaison Officer – Ministry of Science and Technology
Tel: 012 843 6799
Cell: 082 566 0446
