South Africa Appoints New Interim Board for SANSA
South Africa’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, has appointed an interim board to take over the responsibilities of the previous board of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), which was dissolved earlier this year. The five members took office on 21 August 2026 and will serve for six months, until January 2027, or until a new board is constituted.
The Minister made the appointments but does not sit on the board, which comprises five members drawn from industry, research institutions and universities.
SANSA has welcomed the appointment. It described the board as bringing together expertise in research, finance and astrophysics, and said it looks forward to benefiting from the members’ expertise and governance during their term.
Who Sits on the Interim Board
Mr Andrew Khutso Msiza, Senior Vice President of Research and Technology at Sasol, will serve as Chairperson, bringing strong governance and innovation experience. He is joined by Mr Shawn Basson, Head of Finance and Supply Chain Management at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), Professor Thulani Phillip Jili of the University of Zululand, Dr Sinenhlanhla Precious Sikhosana of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Dr Adriana Marais of the Foundation for Space Development Africa.
Why the Previous Board Was Dissolved
The Minister explained the circumstances to Parliament’s committee on 29 September 2026, in a meeting chaired by Ms L Makhubela. According to the committee’s meeting report, Parliament had been informed of the decision to dissolve the previous board under Section 13(6) of the South African National Space Agency Act 36 of 2008. The decision followed sustained efforts to support the board and give it an opportunity to address concerns, particularly those raised from within the board itself.
The Minister said the decision was based primarily on evidence that the board was unable to perform its duties under the Act, and that a breakdown in relationships among its members had made its continued effective functioning impossible.
The Legal Basis for the Interim Arrangement
Under Section 13(8) of the Act, the Minister must appoint an interim board of at least three people within 21 days of dissolving a board. The interim board assumes the responsibilities of the previous one until a new board is constituted under Section 17. The Minister said five members were appointed to provide balance within the interim board.
He stressed that its role is to provide stable governance, maintain institutional continuity and support the lawful appointment of a new board. This matters, he said, because SANSA is a strategic national institution that safeguards the integrity of South Africa’s space programme and supports critical public services, including disaster risk reduction and management.
Committee Raises Performance and Oversight Concerns
The committee welcomed the interim arrangements but stressed the need for transparency, effective governance, consequence management and continued parliamentary oversight to ensure institutional stability and accountability. According to the report, members raised concerns about internal conflicts, conflicting reports, R296 million in underspending on Strategic Infrastructure Hub projects, declining institutional performance and delays in completing the EOSAT-1 project.
Wider Debate on Science Funding
The same meeting considered the report of the Ministerial Working Group on Science, Technology and Innovation Funding. The Minister said the report highlights the vulnerabilities of South Africa’s reliance on foreign funding for research and development, particularly after the withdrawal of United States funding from critical research programmes. Foreign funders account for 17.3% of gross expenditure on research and development. The report makes 11 recommendations to strengthen domestic funding, improve coordination across government and research institutions, encourage private sector investment and protect South Africa’s scientific sovereignty. It is open for public comment until 31 December 2026, with an implementation framework expected in 2027.
Members raised questions on the sustainability of domestic funding, the proposed Sovereign Innovation Fund, the impact of foreign funding cuts on researchers and institutions, and the need for clear implementation plans, measurable targets and accountability. The committee emphasised that public submissions should inform the final implementation framework, and that international research partnerships should continue on terms that support South Africa’s national priorities.