Scientists in South Africa are making strides in transforming lives through scientific projects that leave a lasting social and economic impact.

Among those driving the change is Keitumetse Molamo, head of Engineering and Technology Development at the NRF-SARAO, which is the National Research Foundation (NRF), which manages the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO).

SARAO is a South African national facility responsible for all local radio astronomy research, development, and facilities, including the MeerKAT Radio Telescope and South Africa’s participation in the global Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

The SKA is an international effort to build the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope (not a single telescope, but an array of telescopes that will be spread across vast distances to achieve its massive scale and sensitivity) to help better understand the history of the universe. It will be the largest radio telescope in the world when completed, with a significant part of it hosted in South Africa, along with a component in Australia.

Molamo, who works in the space — her childhood dream, said that one of the most exciting parts of their work is seeing technologies developed for astronomy find applications in other sectors. 

“A good example is our work in digital signal processing and high-performance computing, originally developed to handle the massive data streams from MeerKAT. Those same algorithms and hardware platforms have been adapted for medical imaging and diagnostic tools, particularly in accelerating image reconstruction for MRI scans.

“Another way in which we look at technology impact beyond radio astronomy is by using our expertise to solve social (non-radio astronomy) problems. The South African National Ventilator Project (NVP) was a coordinated national effort in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, involving the local design and manufacture of breathing apparatus devices used in patient treatment. The NVP is a great success story where intensive work between the SARAO team, public healthcare practitioners, and industry experts resulted in the manufacturing of 20,000 units that were deployed and used in hospitals,” she said.

She added that they have another exciting prosthetics project in development, which could change the lives of South Africans who have lost limbs and can’t afford the current market prices.

These kinds of spin-offs are powerful reminders that our engineering skills and knowledge are not only for astronomy, not just about looking into the universe, but also for building technologies that address everyday challenges here on Earth. Our measure of success is when an innovation born out of scientific necessity creates tangible benefits for society, Molamo said.

She is armed with a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSc IT), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA in IT) with Information Technology.

She added that at SARAO, leading complex projects like the MeerKAT and the SKA requires much more than technical depth in one area; it demands integration across disciplines. 

“My background in engineering gives me the technical grounding to engage meaningfully with specialists, ask the right questions, and evaluate trade-offs. While my IT experience helps me appreciate the data-driven backbone of modern radio astronomy (from high-performance computing to software pipelines), and ensure that our infrastructure is scalable and reliable.

“On the business side, I draw on my management and strategic skills to align our engineering goals with broader organisational and national objectives. It’s also key to bring a cost-aware and target-driven approach to the ways of working in the public sector. Complex projects are as much about people and partnerships as they are about technology. So, I focus heavily on nurturing our multidisciplinary teams where mechanical, electrical, software, project managers, and systems engineers collaborate seamlessly with scientists of various forms,” Molamo said.

She added that her role is to connect the dots by translating scientific ambition into engineering reality, while also creating an environment where diverse experts can thrive.

“By blending these skill sets, I help ensure that SARAO delivers not just world-class instruments, but also sustainable growth in South Africa’s technical capacity,” she said.

With projects like MeerKAT and the SKA, we are not only building cutting-edge telescopes, we are building capability in people, in technology, and in industry. In practice, that means three things, which are human capital development, industrial participation, and technology spillover, she said.

She added that these involve training engineers, scientists, and technicians from South Africa and across Africa through bursaries, internships, and research opportunities, with many of these graduates now playing influential roles in the global science and tech industries.

Molamo said they also engage local companies to supply components and services, thereby transferring technical and business expertise into the local economy.

They also ensure that innovations in areas such as signal processing and high-performance computing can be adapted for broader national needs, from data science to communications, for example.

“We measure success not only by the number of papers published or the sensitivity and popularity of the telescopes, but by how many students become qualified professionals, how many local businesses gain new capabilities, and how many African countries can contribute meaningfully to frontier science. If we can demonstrate that investments in big science translate into skilled people, stronger industries, and greater participation in the knowledge economy, then we’ve achieved our mission,” Molamo said.

Her advice to young South Africans is to see opportunity where global challenges intersect with local realities. She said the work they do at SARAO shows that you don’t need to be in Silicon Valley or a first-world country to innovate at the frontier. You can do it right here, solving African problems with African ingenuity.

“First, focus on solving real problems that matter to your community, be it in energy, health, education, or connectivity. The most successful ventures are those that deliver meaningful impact, not just clever technology.

“Second, leverage the ecosystem around you. South Africa has growing support structures such as incubators, university programmes, and organisations like SARAO that provide access to advanced technologies and experts. Collaboration with peers, mentors, and even large science projects can accelerate your journey.

“Third, be resilient and adaptable. Entrepreneurship is uncertain, and in emerging markets, that uncertainty can feel even bigger. But it also means there is space to experiment, leapfrog technologies, and create solutions that the rest of the world will look to.

“Finally, remember that success isn’t only personal. Every venture that builds skills, creates jobs, and inspires others strengthens the broader innovation ecosystem. That’s how, step by step, we transform South Africa into a tech talent powerhouse,” Molamo said.

gcwalisile.khanyile@inl.co.za

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