Science and technology should be understood as extensions of social relations, says the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande.
The Minister was speaking at the Group of 20 (G20) Chief Science Advisors’ (CSAR) Roundtable.
The roundtable was hosted by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation’s (DSTI) National Advisory Council on Innovation.
“After the attainment of democracy in our country, the preoccupation of the democratic state was the reconstruction of our society and more specifically, the building of a society that will be free of the racial, gender, class and spatial injustices of our past.
“For us, this was not merely a technocratic project. We were also guided by the understanding that the persistence of the legacies of apartheid and colonialism in the democratic era was directly connected to the fact that the apartheid government used science to justify or even enable the oppression of the black majority.”
He stated that the world is witnessing a genocide in Gaza, which is being facilitated by technologies like artificial intelligence.
“It is for this reason that we often make the point that science or technology are not inherently neutral or democratic and that they must be understood as extensions of social relations.
“Therefore, science advice must not just be measured by whether it adheres to the rigour of scientific methodology, but also as to whether scientific advice adheres to the highest moral and ethical standards.”
Nzimande also used the occasion to affirm South Africa’s commitment to science-driven public policy.
“In addition to developing coherent science policies and establishing science policy advisory bodies, such as the National Advisory Council on Innovation, as the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, we also realise that if the citizens are to value science and scientific advice, governments must lead in embracing science and, in particular, evidence-based policy making.”
He stated that the department recently adopted a new mantra: “Placing Science, Technology, and Innovation at the Centre of Government, Education, Society, and Industry.”
“The adoption of this mantra reflects our commitment to placing science, technology and innovation at the centre of national development with a view to creating a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable future.”
The G20 CSAR was first convened during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, where a distinct role for its existence was identified in relation to G20 STI (science, technology and innovation) policy advice and its relevance for national and international decision-making processes.
The CSAR is an integral part of the G20 STI track, and this year focuses on equity-based STI for inclusive human development and global sustainability.
As part of the continuation of the DSTI’s G20 programme, the Minister is participating in the meeting of the Intergovernmental Council of the Management of Social Transformations Forum (MOST) and the MOST Forum at the CSIR International Convention Centre today.
The MOST Forum is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s global platform for solutions-oriented debate at the intersection of science, policy, and social transformation.
Nzimande will chair both meetings in his capacity as the current President of the Intergovernmental Council of the MOST Programme.
The DSTI’s G20 programme will culminate in the G20 Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, in Pretoria, at which the Tshwane Declaration, also known as the G20 Research and Innovation Ministerial Declaration, will be adopted. – SAnews.gov.za
