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12 June 2025 | Story André Damons | Photo Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation
Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa
Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, a specialist in indigenous knowledge systems from the Department of Pharmacology at the University of the Free State (UFS), and Jansie Niehaus, NSTF Executive Director and Company Director, at the Second Ministerial Belt and Road Science and Technology conference (BRT) in China.

Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, a specialist in indigenous knowledge systems from the Department of Pharmacology at the University of the Free State (UFS), is part of a delegation with Prof Blade Nzimande, minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), to the Second Ministerial Belt and Road Science and Technology conference (BRT) in China. 

The conference is being held in Chengdu from 11-12 June 2025 and will gather representatives from state-level agencies, scientific academies, and innovation enterprises from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The theme of the conference is “Together for Innovation, Development for All – Jointly Building a Scientific and Technological Innovation Community for the Belt and Road”. 

Prof Matsabisa, Research Director of the African Medicines Innovations and Technologies Development at the UFS, is the only person from a South African university to be invited by Prof Nzimande as part of this ministerial trip. Other members of the delegation include members from the minister’s department, CEOs and board members of agencies that report to the DSTI – namely Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), National Advisory Council on Innovation, Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa, South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions, National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), South African National Space Agency and the National Research Foundation (NRF). 

As a guest professor at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) in Beijing, Prof Matsabisa accompanied the delegation on a visit to the university where he has a longstanding relationship. The UFS has the only active university collaboration within the China-South African Science and Technology bilateral agreement.

 

Supporting around aspects of traditional medicine 

According to a statement on the South African government website, Prof Nzimande expressed the department’s intention to strengthen collaboration with the Beijing University and the Aerospace Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the areas of indigenous knowledge systems and space science, respectively. The minister visited both the BUCM and the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences this week. 

“It is an honour to be part of the minister’s delegation given that I am the only person from a university amongst the agencies. The UFS is indeed very honoured to have been the only one identified to be in this ministerial trip. I am honoured to make connections with the decision-makers such as the chairperson of the board of TIA and the CEO of NSTF and all the other CEOs. It’s indeed an honour to share our work with people from NACI and the minister’s office at DSTI. This really could not have been a better opportune moment for me,” says Prof Matsabisa. 

According to him, he is there to support Prof Nzimande around aspects of traditional medicine as well as with his meeting with the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology during the signing of a letter of intent on traditional medicines including in the BRT conference where the minister will give a talk that will cover traditional medicines. Prof Matsabisa says he is looking forward to strengthening the relationships between the UFS and BUCM and China as well as sharing with the minister the joint projects and joint students from both institutions, hoping for continued support and funding.

“This trip has opened new opportunities. TIA has invited me and the UFS to be part of their new project on neurodegenerative diseases with Cuba. It was wonderful to hear that both the CEO and the chairperson of the board had already been briefed about me to be part of the project.

“It is also great to be present at the signing of the letter of intent on traditional medicine as it is important to know where the policies are heading.”

News Archive

Volksblad (Editorial) Transformation recipe (Afrikaans)
2007-02-13

(Editorial - Afrikaans)

Dinsdag 13 Februarie 2007
Hoofartikelblad

Transformasie-resep

DIE transformasieproses in Suid-Afrika kan vooruitgang pootjie as dit nie reg aangepak en deurgevoer word nie.
 
 

Anders gestel: 'n Onbekookte, ondeurdagte proses kan soveel skade aanrig dat dit die land jare gaan neem net om weer op die been te kom.

 
 
Dit is hierdie slaggate waarteen prof. Adam Habib, direkteur van demokrasie en regering by die RGN, waarsku. Transformasie in die hoër onderwys is hier ter sprake, maar belangrike lesse is ook vir die res van die staatshuishouding te leer.
 

Habib het op 'n gespreksgeleentheid op die Wits-kampus gesê universiteite kan binne 10 tot 15 jaar sterf as niks gedoen word om nuwe, jong akademici van gehalte te werf nie. In hul poging om te transformeer en "swart boude op sitplekke te kry" het universiteite so agtergeraak met hul doelwitte dat hulle nou selfs van swakker gehalte is as vroeër. "Speletjies" word met transformasie gespeel en 'n "malheid" rondom syfers is aan die gang.
 

Instellings fokus so daarop om hul kwota-mikpunte te bereik, sê die professor, dat dienslewering en kundigheid die kreeftegang gaan. "So kry 'n mens 'n situasie waar die adjunk-president dan aankondig sy moet Indië toe gaan om vaardige mense te kry."
 

'n Mens kan net hoop dat hierdie waarskuwings op die regte ore val.
 

Transformasie is nodig, maar beslis nie tot elke prys nie.
 

Dit kan die hoëronderwys-sektor loon om te kom kyk waarheen die Universiteit van die Vrystaat met sy Institusionele Manifes op pad is.
 

Die manifes, tans nog 'n besprekingsdokument, gaan die transformasieproses van die UV rig met as einddoel 'n instelling waar alle Suid-Afrikaners plek sal hê en tuis sal voel, maar waarin kernwaardes soos akademiese gehalte en die volgehoue versterking van kernbevoegdhede en -vermoëns ononderhandelbaar is.
 

Dit is sekerlik die enigste pad na transformasie-welslae wat Suid-Afrika kan en moet loop.

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