Nature has endowed South Africa with beautiful natural landscapes and rich diversity of flora and fauna. Visitors are impressed by the vast nature reserves, and the close encounters with wild animals are unforgettable. To preserve all this, the South African cabinet has approved a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

The country needs to sharpen its innovative edge and continue contributing to global scientific and technological advancement. This requires greater investment in research and development, better use of existing resources, and more nimble institutions that facilitate innovation and enhanced cooperation between public science and technology institutions and the private sector. The high cost of broadband internet connectivity is a major hindrance to innovation. All South Africans should be able to acquire and use knowledge effectively. To this end, the institutional arrangements to manage the information, communications and technology (ICT) environment need to be better structured to ensure that South Africa does not fall victim to the `digital divide’.