CSIR president and CEO Sibusiso Sibisi
Photo by: Duane Daws
Science and Technology Deputy Minister Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi has hailed the high quality of the people working at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the importance of their work. She was speaking at the 2014 CSIR Excellence Awards ceremony on Friday.
She highlighted that she was "in the company of some of country's best minds, to celebrate you [the award nominees], to celebrate the work you are doing, to celebrate your excellence". She noted that "[r]ecognition of our efforts drives us to do better. These awards are designed also to inspire and encourage all other officials to always do your [sic] best."
"We need outstanding achievement and performance, consistently," she affirmed. She pointed out that, although much progress had been made, the country still faced serious socioeconomic problems. It was necessary to make a real impact on people's lives, including those of the poor and marginalised.
As a public entity, the CSIR needed to look at the impact of its work on the poor and marginalised. KaMagwaza-Msibi challenged the science council to use its expertise to guide the country's decision-makers on how to address the country's development problems. She pointed out that science and technology made the difference between countries which achieved socioeconomic development and those which did not.
She cited the fact that the CSIR employs some 2 500 people, making it the biggest employer within the Department of Science and Technology. She made a point of also congratulating the efforts of all CSIR staff, for, without all their work, there would be no celebration of excellence. "Congratulations to the CSIR for creating an environment in which our scientists can thrive."
In his address at the awards function, CSIR president and CEO Dr Sibusiso Sibisi cited the theme of this year's awards: "celebrating the people behind the ideas that work". He noted that, when people talk about the CSIR they often talk about science and technology. But, "[a]ll of that is underpinned by people".
He referred to the vision of the future of the country contained in the National Development Plan. "We are not going to attain that vision of the world we'd like to have unless we have the people to do so. The one, clear, undisputed prerequisite is people."