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Following the April 2009 General Election in South Africa, the South African SKA Project has briefed the Minister for Science and Technology who spoke about her support for the SKA and the MeerKAT in her budget speech in parliament. The project office also briefed the new Premier of the Northern Cape, Hazel Jenkins and the Director General of the Province, Moira Marais-Martin, on the progress of the South African SKA site bid, the establishment of a protected radio astronomy reserve and the construction of the MeerKAT Telescope. The Premier and the Director General confirmed the continuing and enthusiastic support of the Northern Cape Government for the project.
Following the meeting with the Premier, the South African SKA Project Director Dr Bernie Fanaroff, SA SKA Human Capital Manager Kim de Boer, SA SKA Infrastructure Manager Tracy Cheetham, Department of Science and Technology General Manager Dr Tshepo Seekoe, Northern Cape Government SKA Project Manager Paki Monyobo and the SA SKA Site Manager Dawie Fourie met with and briefed the local stakeholder forum in Carnarvon. The stakeholder forum includes the mayors and municipal managers of Williston, Carnarvon and the district municipalities of Kareeberg and Karoo Hoogland, as well as the principals and teachers of the local schools, representatives of the Agricultural Union, representatives of local business and the tourism sector. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Tourism, Environmental Affairs and Transport, Roads and Public Works Departments of the Northern Cape Province.
The preparation of the astronomy site at Losberg, the support base at Klerefontein and the infrastructure has created business and job opportunities in the area for local people, and there is huge enthusiasm for the project in these communities.
A small number of farmers and their employees will be affected by the regulations in terms of the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act which will regulate transmissions in the area which might interfere with the MeerKAT or the SKA. The South African SKA Project and the Department of Science and Technology are working with the Agricultural Union and the affected farmers to implement alternative solutions for services which might be lost, including TV, emergency communications, trunked telecommunications and even internet connections.
The South African SKA Project office facilitated the establishment of a Cyberlab at the Carnarvon High School by the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA). Forty-five computers have been installed in a specially designed laboratory at the school and the Project and USAASA are working on an interim internet connection to the cyberlab pending the construction of the optical fibre link to Klerefontein and the SKA / MeerKAT site early next year. The South African SKA Project is also working with the Northern Cape's Department of Education, Science and Technology to bring additional maths and science teachers to the area. A programme is being launched to upgrade the knowledge and qualifications of maths and science teachers in Williston, Carnarvon, Van Wyksvlei and Brandvlei.
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