Body to advise on IKS unveiled
May 14 2008 12:03:38:020PM  - (SA)  

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The advisory body, to be launched in Pretoria, will take South Africa’s objective to promote indigenous knowledge to another level, the Department of Science and Technology said in a statement.

The minister will induct new committee members as well as deliver a keynote address at the event, which is an effort to ensure that indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) are not fading away under the impact of modernisation and globilisation.

The Ministerial Advisory Committee on IKS was launched to support the National IKS Office (Nikso) which is responsible for advising Mangena on strategic issues relating to the protection, recognition, affirmation, development and the promotion of these systems.

The primary functions of the committee will be to provide a critical assessment of the extent to which the Nikso carries out its mandate, including implementing IKS policy in line with the department’s mandate.

It will also review funding requirements, recommend alternative sources of funding for the work of Nikso, establish a strong working relationship with other relevant organisations such as the National Advisory Council on Innovation and oversee the independent evaluation of the Nikso policies and programmes once every five years.

The committee will also be responsible for providing advice on new developments and approaches to IKS and its integration within the national systems on innovation and policy on IKS and advice on priority research in different areas of IKS, particularly on research and development.

In March last year, the department co-hosted a three-day workshop with the Zambian government with the view of protecting the indigenous knowledge systems in the South African Development Community (SADC) region.

According to Mangena, there are aspects of indigenous knowledge that must be developed in their context that are authentic to their nature which can serve as models for indigenous systems of knowledge and practice.

“Such holistic and context based knowledge has to be recognised and must be brought into the ambits of national policy implementation, and where appropriate, rewarded accordingly,” said the minister.

He said in order for this to happen, these forms of knowledge had to be documented and systematised, and the information fed to government initiatives at all levels.

Nikso has since established a programme of action in terms of networking with key role players to ensure synergies in developing related policies.

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