Africa is ready to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope, says science and technology minister Naledi Pandor. “We`ve been hearing messages from other parts of the world, but we – as Africa – are ready to host the SKA.”

SA is bidding against Australia to host the mega telescope that will attract researchers, significantly strengthen existing astronomy science achievements and create a global hub for astronomy in Africa.

The anticipated date for a final decision is 4 April, although this is likely to be delayed as the members of the SKA Organisation consider the final site decision, says the Department of Science and Technology.

The recommendations of the independent SKA Site Advisory Committee (SSAC) have been referred to the members by the SKA board and will be central to their considerations. “We can only infer from the reaction of Australia, what the recommendation was,” said Pandor at a briefing yesterday. However, she added that the confidential nature of the process must be respected.

The leaking of information to the Australian media has been ongoing, with reports that "Australia`s chances of hosting the world`s largest radio telescope have been dealt a crippling blow after a scientific panel recommended the $2.5 billion project be awarded to a rival consortium led by SA".

“Since then, the Australian and world media have reported that senior Australian politicians have engaged in a series of political lobbying visits to various countries, which will vote on the site, while attempting to diminish Southern Africa`s scientific superiority in the bid and ignoring the reported recommendation of the SSAC, based on scientific and technical criteria, insultingly saying that the decision can only go to Africa as a result of `the European view which says we ought to be doing more development in Africa`,” says the DST.

No sharing

Pandor has refused to engage in a debate with the Australian team, but it is clear that SA and its SKA partner countries have a site which is able to demonstrate its scientific, technical, and cost superiority. She did, however, agree with the Australian sentiment that there is no scope to split the SKA between Africa and Australia.

“If the leaked reports on the recommendation of the SSAC are indeed accurate and there is no `scientific or economic` basis for a split decision, then it is logical to expect that the Southern African site will be preferred,” says the DST.

The European Parliament recently adopted declaration No 45 on “Science capacity building Africa: strengthening European-African radio astronomy partnerships”.

“This is a truly encouraging development, which demonstrates that key partners from European governments and industry share the perspective that not only does Africa have compelling geographic advantages for the hosting of radio astronomy facilities, but that our continent is an attractive and valued partner for science and innovation,” said Pandor.

She added that the SKA SA team is gearing up for strategic partnerships with the private sector. Included in this is infrastructure linked to various priority areas and to the ICT sector. To date, R55 million has been spent on the human capital development programme for SKA SA. From 2012 to 2017, an additional R200 million-plus will be spent.

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