South Africa’s (SA) Director General of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation Mlungisi Cele has called on leaders not to exploit young people, especially women.
He was delivering the closing remarks at the 2025 Science Forum SA in Pretoria.
Cele emphasised the need to create opportunities for girls and boys and nurture a culture of scientific discovery. He also referenced President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of GBV as a national disaster.
“South African government has declared gender-based violence and sexual harrassment as a national disaster. So as we celebrate these young people, we want to urge those of us who are in positions of power not to take advantage of these young people, not least sexually abuse them.”
Cele adds, “We have to protect them, we have to support them, we have to create an enabling environment in which especially young women for centuries in Africa were not allowed to be educated, let alone to be exposed to scientific institutions and pursue their dreams in science.”
–SABC–
