The Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor has congratulated the University of the Witwatersrand on the announcement of new specimens and new anatomical findings linked to Australopithecus Sediba.
The findings were made by a team of 21 national and international scientists led by Professor Lee Berger, and five lead authors (Dr Job Kibii, Dr Kris Carlson, Dr Tracy Kivell, Dr Robyn Pickering and Dr Bernhard Zipfel), who are associates of, or are based at, the Institute of Human Evolution at the Wits School of Geosciences.
Minister Pandor said, "The findings are important for the National Research and Development Strategy of South Africa and the Department of Science and Technology, which has identified a number of knowledge fields in which South Africa aims to achieve international research excellence because of our geographical position and natural or cultural heritage."
Pandor added, "South Africa has a geographical advantage in the palaeosciences (including paleontology, palaeoanthropology, archaeology and related disciplines), owing to the quantity and diversity of finds within our national borders."
Africa as a whole is a strategic geographic location in respect of human origins, and researchers from South Africa and abroad are attracted to the continent.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is committed to continuing the work undertaken by famous pioneers in the field and the current generation of inspirational researchers by supporting research and training in the field of palaeosciences. Our commitment is also demonstrated in the development of the South African Palaeosciences Strategy, which will be gazetted in the coming weeks. With this strategy, we aim to ensure that our irreplaceable heritage benefits future and current generations, and we hope that the South African public will participate in the consultation process which will be unfolding shortly.
The Minister thanked the team for their unwavering dedication to the process of growing South Africa's knowledge in the palaeosciences, and congratulated them on their remarkable discovery.
Enquiries:
Tommy Makhode
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