International scientists call for more collaboration from South African researchers:
International astrophysicists have commended South Africa’s development of radio telescopes for astronomy research, but have called for more collaboration from the country’s institutes to advance research in the field.
Three major radio telescopes are being developed in South Africa. The first, KAT-7, was completed in 2010 and served as a small seven-dish prototype to test technology and train local engineers for larger projects.
It was succeeded by the MeerKAT telescope, a powerful 64-dish array inaugurated in 2018, which has become the most sensitive radio telescope in the Southern Hemisphere.
It has already produced groundbreaking discoveries about black holes and distant galaxies. South Africa is expanding MeerKAT into the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Mid), part of an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope.
Construction of the SKA began in 2021 with nearly 200 dishes planned and the first scientific observations expected around 2027.
“South Africa, basically for political reasons, came in and made a big investment in radio astronomy, because a key figure in the anti-apartheid movement was actually a radio astronomer and became quite influential in the government and encouraged funding in radio astronomy,” British astrophysicist Simon White told the Mail & Guardian recently on the sidelines of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum.
“The result of that has been the creation of radio telescopes, which are part of the global initiative called the SKA. The MeerKAT is what they call the pathfinder — it’s kind of a prototype object to test the technology from the SKA, and it’s working very well. This, I think, is a great success for South Africa.”
The forum brought together 12 Shaw Laureates — winners of the Shaw Prize, an international award recognising significant contributions in the fields of Astronomy, Life Science and Medicine as well as Mathematical Sciences — and young scientists to map out the present and future developments in these fields.
Scientists presented their latest discoveries on supermassive black holes in the Milky Way as well as their recent developments in robotics to help detect and diagnose health conditions.
The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) was an attempt to build a big telescope, but it reduced capabilities and was less successful on an international scale, White said.
“The MeerKAT is definitely working very well, so I think in this case, South Africa is playing to its strengths, if the government keeps supporting it,” he added.
“The SKA as a whole is a global collaboration, and it’s had some problems because some of the plans turned out to be more expensive and slower than intended, so it looks as though, at the moment, that the full plan won’t be achieved, so we have to scope back,” he said.
“I think South Africa already has a very good working telescope and it will probably get bigger, maybe not as much as anticipated, but you definitely have something there, in the same way as China has a really good facility which is being built, and now they are considering expanding it and building more and supporting telescopes and making the facility larger and even more effective, so building on your strengths is always a good way to go forward.”
Other scientists have said that research into the universe requires more collaboration with institutes from across the world.
The South African Astronomical Observatory has collaborated with the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s astronomical research department, which has advanced studies of gravitational waves from merging black holes and neutron stars, as well as other highly energetic phenomena.
“The South African Astronomical Observatory was helping us to build fibre bundles [mathematical structures used in physics and astrophysics]. We were discussing how to build fibre bundles for a long time,” Yan Renbin, a professor and Global Stem Scholar at the department of physics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told the M&G during a visit to the department.
“We were also recently thinking of putting the instrument in the South African Astronomical Observatory, but I think our main collaborator is moving institutions, so we are uncertain over how that collaboration will proceed in the future.”
Reinhard Genzel, a German astronomer who was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize for Physics for his discovery of a supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy, also said more collaboration is needed to study the expanding universe.
“We do this because it’s fun. We get the world together, and I would say, if South Africa makes contact with the German Science Foundation or Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, they would be delighted to see what you can do,” Genzel told the M&G on the sidelines of the forum.
“In order to get young people to come to Germany or support Germans coming to your country. I would love to have South Africans,” he said.
The journalist’s trip to Hong Kong to cover the Hong Kong Laureate Forum was sponsored by the Lee Shau Kee Foundation.
VW Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line+ review: A bargain within its segment:
The stereotype: an Indian man in a Golf with a cigarette in his mouth, his window rolled down, and his seat reclined so far back that you would think he is driving from the boot of the car.
Unfortunately, I was the stereotype when I received the Golf 8.5 on test, and even though I’m not a cigarette smoker, I quickly realised that maybe it’s just the car that tempts you to do it, because it has a cigarette lighter in the centre console and a very neat-looking ashtray.
I am happy to say that I did not give in to that temptation, but it was difficult not to move the driver’s seat as far back as I could. I also realised that maybe people do this because the drive is delightful.
Even from the outside, the car screams “try me”.
From the moment you unlock it, the animation that moves from the sharp, thin headlights to the VW logo illuminating for the first time ever on a Golf brings life to an already attractive vehicle.
Because we were in the R-Line+ model, we were treated to the same type of beauty on the inside.
The R-Line+ model offers a power-adjustable driver’s seat, active high beam, heated and cooling front seats, Vienna leather seats with an R-Line logo in the front, pedals in brushed stainless steel, and 18-inch Leeds alloy wheels.
This is in addition to what is already offered in the R-Line trim, which has the headrest integrated into the seat for a sporty look, body-coloured bumpers, park assist and park distance control, progressive steering with sports suspension, and keyless entry.
The finishes along the dash are also clean and sporty, and you receive a complete digital instrument cluster and a 12.9-inch infotainment screen that is well-positioned and extremely responsive.
The front of the car is also extremely spacious, and while you don’t expect too much space at the back, it is sufficient.
What does it feel like to drive?
The Golf 8.5 features a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 110 kW of power and 250 Nm of torque, which is paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.
This is the same combination present in the Audi A3, and boy, it feels just as lovely.
It feels firm and confident on the road, but tightens up when cornering and is extremely agile without feeling wobbly or uncertain.
In terms of power, it delivers 110kW and 250 Nm of torque, which is more than enough. In fact, it feels even quicker because of how agile and confident it is around bendy roads, and to be honest, it just makes the car extremely fun to drive.
The gearbox is also buttery smooth, and gearshifts are effortless.
I mean, we don’t expect anything less from the Golf, but it certainly had me impressed, even for the high standards it has set for itself.
Pricing and verdict
The Golf 8.5 really shines in every department.
From comfort to technology to the awesome drive it provides, I feel that the R580 900 price tag slapped on the entry model is extremely reasonable.
With the R-Line+, you get all the bells and whistles, but will have to fork out a little more as it is priced at R688 100.
However, for what you are getting, I don’t think hatches come better than this one.
I mean, the VW Golf R Line+ really falls into the category of the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A Class, and BMW 1 Series, and for that price, it really does well to assert itself as a bargain within the segment.
ANC to announce its mayoral candidates before 2026 local government elections:
The ANC will reveal its mayoral candidates for metros and secondary cities, such as Polokwane and Rustenburg, ahead of the 2026 local government elections, the party said on Monday.
This will go against the party’s previous tradition, in which members would campaign for the elections and then announce their mayoral candidates after the vote.
Parties such as the Democratic Alliance, Patriotic Alliance and ActionSA have already announced some of their mayoral candidates.
“The rules have been tightened, and the minimum qualification is now mandatory. The mayoral candidates for the metros and secondary cities shall also be handled by the national officials,” ANC electoral commission chair Kgalema Motlanthe told a media briefing at Luthuli House on Monday.
“This is to ensure that we select people who bring expertise and the requisite qualifications to occupy those positions.”
Previously, an ANC regional chairperson would automatically be elected as mayor if the party won a majority in a metro or secondary city. In 2021, the ANC approved guidelines stating that its provincial chairpersons or regional chairs would not automatically become premiers or mayors but would instead be subjected to interviews, with at least three candidates considered for government positions.
The party’s national executive is now responsible for interviewing and selecting the person who will be the head of the government. This was done to prevent incompetent individuals from being appointed to senior government positions.
Motlanthe said the revised rules aim to fundamentally improve councillors’ capacity to provide strategic direction and oversight to municipalities, adding that minimum qualifications are now mandatory.
Branches are expected to nominate candidates to represent them on various councils in February next year. Motlanthe said all candidates must be ANC members in good standing at the time of nomination to the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
Candidates must have a proven track record of commitment to and involvement in the democratic movement and/or government, he added.
“The 2026 candidate selection processes are primarily about choosing the best possible candidates to occupy councillor, mayoral, speaker, chief whip, and mayoral committee positions,” he said.
“Candidates must have no criminal record or criminal charges brought by the [National Prosecuting Authority] NPA, excluding politically related crimes committed before April 1994. Private prosecutions are excluded unless they result in criminal convictions by a court of law,” Motlanthe said.
“No candidate shall be eligible for nomination if he or she has been found guilty by a disciplinary committee of contravening the ANC Code of Conduct and had their membership suspended at any time in the last ten years. This rule also applies to members awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary hearing or an appeal.”
Those affected by the ANC’s step-aside rule will also not be eligible for nomination. The rule says members who have been criminally charged cannot participate in any ANC-related activities, including representing the party in government.
Motlanthe said those who are already public representatives or members of government must achieve satisfactory ratings in their performance reviews.
“All candidates must agree to vetting of criminal records and qualifications, and must make financial and other interest declarations before final nomination. Candidates must also agree to a lifestyle audit or other investigation to be conducted by reputable accounting and law firms,” he said.
However, lifestyle audits will not be mandatory. Instead, they will be conducted when questions arise from the public, the media, or any other party—particularly in cases involving suspected unexplained wealth. In such situations, the electoral committee will order a lifestyle audit.
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