In a heartfelt tribute, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, called on scientists to always put humanity at the heart of their work – a principle that defined the life and legacy of Professor Keolebogile Shirley Motaung.
“This means that our scientists and researchers must uphold the principle that scientific knowledge must be used responsibly and ethically,” he said on Wednesday.
The Minister delivered a speech at the memorial service in Pretoria for Motaung, who passed away last week.
Motaung served as the Chair of the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship at the Financial Research and Entrepreneurship Foundation – Nelson Mandela University Research Chair in Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion, where she led transformative research that connected innovation, commercialisation, and entrepreneurship.
She was the founder and CEO of Global Health Biotech, which is best known for developing La-Africa Soother – a plant-based anti-inflammatory ointment made from indigenous medicinal plants.
The ointment effectively relieves muscle and joint aches, offering athletes and women a natural alternative for anti-inflammatory relief.
“The first lesson we learn from Prof Motaung’s life is the need for our scientists and researchers to always remember the question: what problem does my knowledge seek to solve?”
He told mourners that one of the driving forces behind Motaung’s founding of Global Health Biotech was to address graduate unemployment, a mission she advanced by making her PhD students shareholders in the company.
“She did not just identify the problem or lament about it. She ventured to find a solution. Not the professional lamenters who are forever complaining and never provide any solutions.”
Even though she had risen to the highest levels possible and had earned a variety of national and international honours, the Minister said Motaung made time to mentor thousands of young, black, and female scientists and entrepreneurs.
Nzimande also remembered Motaung for her commitment to placing indigenous knowledge at the centre of research and development.
“We also learn that research must be responsive to the lived reality of ordinary people. This means that the research that is produced by our public research institutions must be deliberate about addressing our immediate development challenges as a country.”
Nzimande took the time to urge all public research institutions to concern themselves with proactively finding sustainable solutions for such issues as poverty, inequality, unemployment, gender-based violence, energy security, the deleterious impact of climate change and the growing problem of cancer in South Africa.
In addition, the Minister said Motaung’s life demonstrates that not only can black people and in particular black women, do science, but they are more than capable of breaking new ground in the various fields of science.
“We are also paying tribute to someone who was driven by a deep commitment to change the lives of the young people of our country through education, science, and entrepreneurship.”
Nzimande believes that the best tribute to Motaung would empower marginalised young girls and boys to pursue their dreams of becoming scientists, academics, and entrepreneurs.
“On behalf of our President, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, I wish to convey our deepest condolences as government to the children and family of Prof Motaung and also express our country’s gratitude to her for her selfless service to our country and its people.” – SAnews.gov.za
