During the Budget Vote Debate, South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr Blade Nzimande, announced the plans of the country’s Department of Science and Technology to spend about R8.2 billion (approximately USD 589.2 million) for the 2019/20 financial year.

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) will receive the sum of R143.5 million (about USD 10.3 million) in annual appropriation for the 2019/2020 fiscal year, to promote the use of space and facilitate cooperation in space-related activities, while fostering research and development in space science and engineering in South Africa, according to a recently-released budget guide by the Department of Science and Technology.

The budget, which is focused on growing the nation’s capacity in science, technology and innovation, comprises of the annual appropriation of six entities within the DST: the Academy of Science of South Africa, Technology Innovation Agency, Human Sciences Research Council, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, National Research Foundation and SANSA.

SANSA’s 2019/2020 appropriation increased by 5.3% from about R138 million (approximately USD 9.9 million) which was allocated to the Agency for the 2018/2019 fiscal year. DST’s overall budget also increased by 5% from R7.8 billion (approximately USD 559.9 million) allocated over the same period.

In addition to the parliamentary annual appropriation, SANSA and other entities within the DST will receive project-specific funding and other accruable finances from international collaborations.

The South African government continues to invest heavily in the nation’s space sector. The Minister also disclosed that the government spent approximately R3.2 billion (about USD 230 million) towards the construction of the mega MeerKAT radio telescope, a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope, another multi-billion dollar project backed by the South African government alongside a host of international partners.