Pontsho Maruping

"I remember being inspired by the space flight of the first black female astronaut Mae Jemison. I thought to myself: “If someone can be so brave to go to space, I should be brave to quit the job that I wasn’t loving.”"

"Projects like the SKA are so big, that if you do them right, they can really have a lasting impact wherever you are. There are young people who have gone through our learnership and skills training programmes that are now working for SARAO."

"This project really changed the narrative about what Africa can or cannot do. This idea that we are just consumers of science and technology – when you see that Africa can actually contribute to science and technology in some areas, it allows us to be a real global player."

"In terms of economic development, having Africa be a player in high-tech industries, rather than just being a consumer of science and technology, will stimulate job creation, infrastructure development, and increased investment in science and technology in general."

"I’m confident that South Africa has the potential for an innovation-led future."

"With the right environment to foster innovation, and by leveraging projects like the SKA to attract further investment, I’m optimistic about South Africa’s ability to become a global leader in cutting-edge science and technology."