The recent official launch of the MeerLICHT telescope is arguably an ideal scientific accompaniment to South Africa’s political ‘New Dawn’. Likewise, the Sutherland-based instrument is the perfect optical accompaniment to the MeerKAT radio telescope. In other words, it will be the ‘eyes’ to the MeerKAT’s ‘ears’. Hopefully, the project will also herald a new dawn for investment into science and technology research in South Africa.