6 March 2009
Space technology allows developing countries to "leapfrog" certain stages of
development. This has been said by Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa
at the launch of the South African National Space Policy that was held at Diep
in die Berg Conference Centre in Pretoria east today, 6 March 2009.
"Communications satellites allow communications between any two points in a
country without the need to install ground-based infra-structure. This property
of space systems also provides important societal benefits in areas such as
disaster management, where ground-based communications infrastructure is often
unusable," said Mpahlwa.
He said that our primary goal as a country is to acquire the appropriate
space-based systems for wider socio-economic benefits as well as our
independent access to space.
However, the Minister stressed that the activities in the space arena need
to be done in accordance with the legislative framework that guides all actors
on how they should engage in space. "It is in this regard that we are proud
that we now have a policy that provides guidance to all South African public
and private sector stakeholders undertaking space activities and encourage
better co-ordination and co-operative governance amongst the stakeholders."
Mpahlwa added that the next legislative step will be to ensure ratification
of the convention on International Liability for Damage caused by space objects
and convention on the registration of objects launched to outer space. He said
by ratifying these important international instruments, South Africa will be
demonstrating its commitment to be a responsible user of the space
environment.
Minister Mpahlwa mentioned that implementation of the policy will be done
through the relevant government departments and agencies according to their
mandates as guided by the policy.
The Department of Trade and Industry is currently in a process of developing
a space industry framework. The framework will be a scoping exercise that has
intentions of identifying the South African capabilities and potential whilst
also considering the already Information Communication Technology (ICT) to
mention a few.
For more information contact:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 073 522 6801
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Lillian Mofokeng
Cell: 082 888 8362
E-mail: lmofokeng@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
6 March 2009
