Scientists in South Africa are achieving significant breakthroughs in transforming lives through scientific projects that have a long-term social and economic impact. Key among the drivers of these changes is Ketumetse Molamu, Head of Engineering and Technology Solutions Development at NRF-SARAO.
SARAO, managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF), is a national South African entity responsible for all local radio astronomy research, development, and infrastructure, including the MeerKAT Radio Telescope and South Africa's participation in the global Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.
The SKA is an international endeavor to build the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope. It will consist not of a single instrument, but of an array of telescopes distributed over vast distances to achieve the necessary scale and sensitivity, with a significant portion located in South Africa and another component in Australia, to help better understand the history of the Universe.
Molamu, whose childhood dream was to work in space, noted that one of the most exciting aspects of their work is applying technologies developed for astronomy to other sectors. She cited work in digital signal processing and high-performance computing, originally created to handle massive data streams from MeerKAT. These same algorithms and hardware platforms were adapted for medical diagnostic tools, specifically to accelerate MRI image reconstruction.
Furthermore, the team uses its expertise to solve social problems unrelated to radio astronomy. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the South African National Ventilator Programme (NVP) was implemented. This coordinated national project involved the local design and manufacturing of respiratory devices used in patient care. The NVP was a success due to the collaborative effort of the SARAO team, public health specialists, and industry experts, resulting in the production of 20,000 units deployed in hospitals.
Molamu added that another interesting prototyping project is underway that could change the lives of South Africans who have lost limbs and cannot afford current market prices.
According to her, such byproducts serve as a powerful reminder that engineering skills and knowledge are used not only to study the Universe but also to create technologies that solve everyday problems on Earth. The measure of success is creating tangible societal benefit through innovation born out of scientific necessity.
Molamu holds Bachelor of Engineering (BEng), Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSc IT), and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. She emphasized that leading complex projects like MeerKAT and SKA requires not only deep technical knowledge in one field but also the integration of various disciplines.
Thanks to her engineering background, she has the technical foundation to engage meaningfully with specialists, ask the right questions, and assess trade-offs. Her IT experience helps her understand the data-driven basis of modern radio astronomy research (from high-performance computing to software pipelines) and ensure infrastructure scalability and reliability. In the business aspect, she applies her management and strategic planning skills to align engineering goals with broader organizational and national objectives, focusing on a results-oriented and cost-aware approach in the public sector.
Molamu stresses that complex projects depend equally on people and partnerships as they do on technology. Therefore, she actively works on developing interdisciplinary teams where mechanical engineers, electricians, software developers, project managers, and systems engineers seamlessly collaborate with scientists from diverse fields. Her role is to connect all elements, translating scientific ambition into engineering reality and creating an environment where diverse experts can thrive.
She asserts that by combining these skill sets, she helps SARAO provide not only world-class instruments but also foster the sustainable growth of South Africa's technical capacity.
Projects like MeerKAT and SKA do more than just create advanced telescopes; they shape human capital, technology, and industry. This manifests in three ways: human capital development, industrial participation, and technological transfer. These aspects include training engineers, scientists, and technicians from South Africa and across Africa through scholarships, internships, and research opportunities, many of whom now hold influential positions in the global scientific and technological industry.
They also attract local companies to supply components and services, thereby transferring technical and business expertise into the local economy. Furthermore, they ensure that innovations in areas such as signal processing and high-performance computing can be adapted for broader national needs, such as in data science or telecommunications.
Molamu defines success not just by the number of published papers or the sensitivity of the telescopes, but by how many students become qualified professionals, how many local businesses gain new opportunities, and how many African countries can make a significant contribution to cutting-edge science. If it can be demonstrated that investments in large-scale science translate into skilled people, stronger industries, and greater participation in the knowledge economy, then the mission is accomplished.
Her advice to young South Africans is to see opportunities where global challenges intersect with local realities. She notes that working at SARAO demonstrates that frontier innovation does not necessarily require being in Silicon Valley or a wealthy country; it can happen right here by solving African problems with African ingenuity.
Firstly, focus on solving real problems important to the community, whether in energy, healthcare, education, or connectivity. The most successful ventures are those that bring tangible impact, not just smart technology.
Secondly, leverage the surrounding ecosystem. South Africa has growing support structures, such as incubators, university programs, and organizations like SARAO, which provide access to advanced technologies and experts. Collaboration with peers, mentors, and even major scientific projects can accelerate the journey.
Thirdly, resilience and adaptability are crucial. Entrepreneurship is unpredictable, and this uncertainty can seem even greater in emerging markets. However, it also means there is room for experimentation, technological leapfrogging, and creating solutions that the rest of the world will look at.
Finally, remember that success is not solely personal. Every venture that develops skills, creates jobs, and inspires others strengthens the broader innovation ecosystem. This is how, step by step, South Africa is becoming a hub of technological talent.
