The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, says the African continent must change the way it engages with itself and the rest of the world when it comes to science, technology and innovation.
The Minister was delivering his department’s budget vote in Parliament.
He has tabled a budget of more than R10 billion. Nzimande says it will be spent to advance science, technology and innovation.
“Africa must change the way it engages with itself and the rest of the world. One of the critical tasks in this respect is the building of what we call a sovereign research and development agenda. By this we mean research and development agenda that is designed, funded and led by Africans. To make this call is not to reject international funding and partnership funding but to advocate for sovereign support that is underpinned by equity and fairness and doesn’t replace domestic and continental investment and innovation in future.”
Some of the political parties described this year’s budget as key in asserting South Africa’s technological role in the world.
“This budget is about the kind of a nation that we are determined to build. It is about whether South Africa will remain a consumer of import technologies or emerge as a sovereign producer of innovation, industrialisation and scientific advancement,” says Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Lusizo Makhubele.
Inkatha Freedom Party member of Parliament, Sanele Zondo says the budget should also assist in dealing with the unemployment crisis.
“Given our high youth unemployment rate, short comings in service delivery and slow industrial growth, science, technology and innovation must be a vessel for us to do more.”
Democratic Alliance member, Tumelo Ramongalo raises concerns about lack of resources for institutions responsible for innovation.
“Of particular concern is that while infrastructure-intensive programmes receive major investment, support institutions responsible for innovation, diffusion, human competitiveness and commercialisation continue to face resource constraints.”
Other political parties including the Umkhonto We Sizwe Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters said the budget is not addressing core issues related to science and technology.
“There’s a big difference between talking about progress and investing in progress, this budget sounds ambitious but the money behind it is too small to match these promises being made,” says MK Party Member of Parliament, Thembinkosi Mjadu.
Economic Freedom Fighters MP Dr Suzan Thembekwayo has criticised the budget.
“You cannot speak about the future economy while thousands of young science and engineering graduates are sitting at home unemployed. This contradiction ran throughout this budget.”
The Minister also said on 4 July that his department will launch the first installment of the National Science Month, expanding on what was previously known as National Science Week.
The DSTI presented its 2026/27 Budget Vote roadmap to Parliament, focusing on placing science, technology, and innovation at the heart of our national progress. From AI transformation to the green economy, we are building a more resilient South Africa. pic.twitter.com/MkRtuzSxTo
— DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION (@dstigovza) May 15, 2026
VIDEO | Minister Blade Nzimande delivers the Science, Technology and Innovation Department’s budget vote:
