President Jacob Zuma congratulated Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor and her team on Friday for winning the right to co-host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope with Australia. <\/p>\n
\"We are especially proud of winning this bid... on Africa Day,\" Zuma said in a statement. <\/p>\n
\"Africa is indeed rising. South Africa is confident that the country will deliver on the expectations of the continent and world.\" <\/p>\n
Zuma said the this achievement was possible because of the African Union's endorsement and support from partner countries including Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia and Zambia. <\/p>\n
Earlier, it was announced that the SKA board had decided on a \"dual site approach\". <\/p>\n
\"We will be installing equipment in both Australia and South Africa and together they will form part of a global observatory,\" the French news agency AFP quoted SKA board chairperson John Womersley as saying at a press conference at the Schiphol Airport, in Amsterdam. <\/p>\n
\"This is a momentous day for South Africa and the continent and will give all of us the possibility to answer fundamental questions in physics, astronomy and cosmology,\" the African National Congress said. <\/p>\n
\"It will advance our scientific research capacity as a country and a continent and will also see a lot of foreign direct investment injected into this project, which will go a long way in creating much-needed jobs...\" <\/p>\n
The ANC said it would also put South Africa in good stead to advance to an inclusive information society. <\/p>\n
Democratic Alliance MP Junita Kloppers-Lourens said the party was disheartened, but not dismayed at the decision. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Africa is indeed rising - Zuma<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" President Jacob Zuma congratulated Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor and her team on Friday for winning the right to co-host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope with Australia. \"We are especially proud of winning this bid.. Continue reading