To cover the costs of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, SA and all member countries need to raise at least R20 billion.

Speaking at the public participation programme for the project, in Carnarvon, Northern Cape, science and technology minister Derek Hanekom" rel=tag>Derek Hanekom says for this reason it is encouraging that the SKA received
the attention of the president, Jacob Zuma" rel=tag>Jacob Zuma.

Zuma attended the programme as well, saying SKA will put Africa at the forefront of technology innovation.

Former science and technology minister Naledi Pandor" rel=tag>Naledi Pandor said the SKA has placed huge obligations on SA as the majority host. She handed over the project to Hanekom, saying he will ensure it is executed and “we will show the world what SA can do”.

She added that the SKA has placed SA on the world map. “Everybody is talking about our country and the project. We cannot let the world down. We are going to succeed.”

The former minister also said the SKA is going to act like a magnet, since it will attract scientists, engineers, researchers and IT practitioners to the country and to the Northern Cape in particular.

“We’ve boosted research on the African continent. This project has already begun to dynamise science on the continent.”