South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) announced on Tuesday that it is to establish an Astronomy Sub-Agency within the National Research Foundation (NRF) as soon as possible. Hitherto, there has been no single institution overseeing the country’s astronomy activities.

This step is intended as an interim step aimed at maintaining – and, ideally, strengthening – the growth now being experienced by astronomy in the country. Astronomy is classified as a national flagship initiative, in alignment with the Areas of Geographic Advantage concept (incorporated in the DST’s 2002 National Research and Development Strategy).

Currently, South Africa has a number of astronomy centres and national and international programmes and projects – the South African Astronomical Observatory, which includes the Southern African Large Telescope (Salt); the Hartebeeshoek Radio Astronomy Observatory; Square Kilometre Array South Africa (SKA SA), which includes the MeerKAT project and KAT-7; the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Network and the Cherenkov Telescope Array.

“This [Sub-Agency] approach will provide a platform for South African astronomy to mature as an enterprise, while longer-term decisions about its optimal governance and suitable arrangements can be made in line with the unfolding national and international commitments and obligations (Salt, SKA, African VLBI Network, Cherenkov Telescope Array) and relevant domestic circumstances,” stated the DST in a communiqué.

The decision to create the Sub-Agency was taken at a meeting held on March 12, involving Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom, senior DST officials and the directors of the NRF, the national astronomy institutions, SKA SA and an advisory body designated the Astronomy Desk (set up in late 2011).

The meeting reviewed the recommendations of the Astronomy Desk and the possibility of the creation of a national astronomy agency was debated but, for the moment, rejected. “The meeting was informed by the Minister and DST officials that prevailing economic conditions and fiscal realities were not conducive to the establishment of new agencies at present,” reported the DST communiqué.

Hence the decision to create the Sub-Agency within the NRF. This will involve the NRF creating the post of Deputy CEO: Astronomy, who will be part of the NRF corporate executive. The Sub-Agency will make use of the NRF’s shared corporate services, such as finance, governance and human resources, thereby limiting overhead costs. Fiduciary responsibility for the Sub-Agency will be vested with the NRF board. In addition, an independent Astronomy Advisory Board (AAB) will be set up.