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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