Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as a ‘South African success story’ as the institution marks 80 years since its establishment. The President was delivering remarks at the institution’s headquarters following a tour of the facility on Tuesday afternoon.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa praised the CSIR for its role in pioneering groundbreaking technologies and solutions that have significantly impacted South Africa’s scientific and industrial development. Emphasizing the transformation since 1994, he noted, “With the advent of democracy, the CSIR embarked on a trajectory of aligning itself with the values of our Constitution. The CSIR is a true treasure for our nation.”
The President highlighted the crucial role the CSIR played during the COVID-19 pandemic. CSIR engineers produced approximately 18,000 ventilators, which were critical for patient care nationwide. Additionally, the CSIR developed a platform to track the pandemic’s impact, assisting the government in directing its response efficiently.
President Ramaphosa recounted the swift collaboration with the CSIR during the pandemic, stating, “At a moment of great crisis and danger, it was Minister [Blade] Nzimande who said let’s go to the CSIR… You distinguished yourselves as a truly capable facility and centre.”
He urged the government to leverage the CSIR’s capabilities more extensively to fulfill South Africa’s developmental goals. “In government, we don’t use. the CSIR enough,” he said, advocating for a special Cabinet session where the CSIR can present its capabilities and insights to enhance state capacity through science, technology, and innovation.
The President underscored the CSIR’s pivotal role in rebuilding the country’s manufacturing base and addressing critical issues such as job creation, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth. “[The CSIR] being the centre for industrial research, and who are so adept in a number of areas, can help us to address the challenges,” Ramaphosa concluded.