SARAO celebrates with SAAO at Ministerial launch of new SAAO Visitor’s Centre and Remote Ops Centre

SARAO celebrated with fellow National Research Foundation (NRF) facility, the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), on Wednesday, 9 July 2025 when the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Prof. Blade Nzimande, officially opened its new Visitor’s Centre and Remote Operation Centre.

The opening, which took place at the SAAO in Observatory, Cape Town, was a multi-activity event which included a learner programme attended by more than 120 learners from various schools in the province, an exhibition, musical and dance performances, a tour of one of the oldest astronomy observatories in the world and a stargazing activity.

SARAO was invited, together with iThemba Labs, the South African Environmental Observation Network, the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, and the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, to exhibit during the learner programme, which included guided tours of the new Visitor’s Centre, the McClean Telescope and the new Remote Operation Centre.

Minister Nzimande and delegates from several government entities including the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the Department of Tourism, the NRF and several related entities attended the launch, which was preceded by the presentation of the Budget Vote of the DSTI in Parliament. The launch formed part of the Minister’s Budget Vote Outreach Activity, which included a ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling ceremony by Minister Nzimande, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, and Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina. Thereafter the Ministerial delegation was taken on a tour and presentations on indigenous astronomy, the Sun Room and the Scientific Wing.

Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, CEO of the NRF, welcomed the Ministerial delegation and said that the launch of the SAAO Visitor’s Centre and Remote Operation Centre is a feather in the cap for South Africa’s astronomy facilities. “This launch converts world class astronomy assets into wider public venues, and this includes the benefits to education, tourism attractions, and the provision of high skill jobs, among others,” said Nelwamondo.

Dr Rosalind Skelton, Managing Director of the SAAO, said that the Visitor’s Centre and the Remote Operation Centre has been a long-term dream of the SAAO, and that it is only through the hard work and vision of its employees, the DSTI, and the NRF that it is finally a reality.

“These have been major collective efforts to put together, from the early conception, the ideas, to finding the money to do it, building it, designing it, all of those contributions, and I would like to thank everyone who is involved. I would particularly like to thank the sponsors – the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the Department of Tourism, the National Research Foundation, and SALT – who contributed funding towards the Visitor’s Centre. Today we launched phase one, and with the generous support of our sponsors, we will continue to develop the Visitor’s Centre to make it even more accessible for the public,” said Skelton.

Minister Nzimande said that events such as these speak directly to the mantra of the DSTI, which is ‘placing science, technology and innovation at the centre of government, education in the street and society’. “We are a talented and creative nation, including the NRF and the SAAO. The challenge is to make it work so that science is appreciated in society. That is something that is very important so that we can interest the young people in science,” said Minister Nzimande.

“Given the scientific value of this observatory, which is now a heritage site, our being here is also in line with our country’s recently adopted Astro-tourism Strategy. We want to make South Africa one of the science tourism capitals in the world because we have so much to offer,” said Minister Nzimande.

He continued: “It is very important that we open up facilities such as these because our departmental philosophy is that we don’t want to teach learners who are just consumers of knowledge, but we want to turn them into producers of knowledge. These two facilities are an important addition to our country’s astronomy infrastructure and they also serve to advance the objectives of our astro-tourism strategy, amongst others. Most importantly, the two centres are part of the implementation of our mandate, therefore the centre must help in producing astronomers. Congratulations to the NRF and the SAAO for the work that you do. This is a great way to finish the Budget Vote,” said Minister Nzimande.

SARAO’s exhibition at the launch was managed Communications and Stakeholder Relations team members Rogeria van Eck, Angus Flowers, Malulo Masisi and Vivienne Rowland, and members of the Radio Frequency Interference team Sandra Snyman, Thokozani Ngubane and Graeme Young.