SARAO Exco team embarks on roadshow in the Northern Cape
The SARAO Executive Committee undertook a roadshow in the Northern Cape from 27 February to 2 March 2023 to connect and engage with the local communities and government structures.
The Exco team visited local stakeholders in the SKA impact area to provide feedback on the progress of the project, future development, and opportunities available.
The roadshow was the first in-person meeting with SARAO leadership since October 2019. During the week of the roadshow, meetings were held with the Namakwa District, the Hantam Local Municipality in Calvinia, the Karoo Hoogland Local Municipality in Williston, and the Kareeberg Local Municipality in Carnarvon. This was followed by community meetings with members of the local communities of Williston and Carnarvon during the week. A meeting with the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality was scheduled for later in the month.
The SARAO Exco team with a group of SARAO school learner bursary recipients during the Northern Cape roadshow earlier this month.
Topics discussed during the municipal and community meetings include science, infrastructure development, land acquisition, community development, stakeholder engagement, schools programme, artisan training, bursaries, alternative communication, and supply chain management.
SARAO Managing Director Pontsho Maruping says that the meetings were crucial to reconnect with the stakeholders in the Northern Cape and to ensure that everyone is up to date with the progress and development of the SKA project. “Maintaining good relationships with the local authorities and local communities in the four towns surrounding the core of the site is essential to our social licence to operate. Part of our engagement is to continue to identify ways that the SKA telescope can impact positively on the community and we strongly believe that our various training interventions will have a lasting impact,” says Maruping.
The SARAO Managing Director, Pontsho Maruping, delivers her presentation during the community meeting in Williston earlier this month. The meeting took place as part of the Northern Cape roadshow undertaken by SARAO Exco members.
