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South African Geodesy Workshop — Online Agenda (2 days)
Dates: 1–2 October 2025 | Venue: SAAO | Hosts: DSTI & DLRRD | Support: SARAO, SANSA, universities
Day 1 — Overviews + Pillar 1 (Governance, Partnerships & Reporting)
Time | Item | Lead/Owner | Session chair/moderator |
08:30–09:00 | Registration & Tea/Coffee | Thutho Ndlovu (DSTI) | |
09:00–09:15 | Welcome & Setting the scene | C. Mokonoto (Acting DDG DSTI) + | Takalani (DSTI) |
09:15–09:30 | What is Geodesy and Why is It Important? | Aslam Parker (DLRRD) | Roelf (SARAO) |
09:30–09:45 | The Geodesy Ecosystem (Globally, Regionally, and Locally) | Patrick Vorster (DLRRD) | Roelf (SARAO) |
09:45–10:00 | UN-GGCE: 1st Joint Development Plan (JDP) | Nick Brown (UN-GGCE) | Roelf (SARAO) |
10:00–10:15 | Towards a SAGWG and GGOS Africa: Building local and regional capacity | Aletha de Witt (DSTI) | Roelf (SARAO) |
10:15–10:30 | Panel Discussion / Q&A | All speakers from this session | Moderator: Roelf (SARAO) |
10:30–11:00 | Tea/Coffee Break | ||
11:00–12:10 | Lightning updates from various institutions (10 min each) | Hubert Mathebula (DSTI), Aslam Parker (DLRRD), Roelf Botha (SARAO), Jonathan Ward (SANSA), Maroale Chauke (CSI) | Siphiwe (UCT) |
12:10–12:30 | Panel Discussion / Q&A | All speakers from this session | Moderator: Siphiwe (UCT) |
12:30–13:30 | Lunch | ||
13:30–13:45 | Towards a National Strategy for Geodesy in SA | Aletha de Witt (DSTI) | Jonathan (SANSA) |
13:45–14:00 | Establishment and Structure of the SAGWG | Aslam Parker (DLRRD) | Jonathan (SANSA) |
14:00–14:15 | Laying the Foundations for GGOS Africa | Jack Radcliffe (UMan) | Jonathan (SANSA) |
14:15–14:30 | Panel Discussion / Q&A | All speakers from this session | Jonathan (SANSA) |
14:30–15:00 | Breakout Session | All participants | Jonathan (SANSA) |
15:00–15:30 | Tea/Coffee Break | ||
15:30–15:45 | Feedback from breakout session | Aslam Parker (DLRRD) | Pierre (SANSA) |
15:45–16:00 | What We Heard → What We’ll Do | Aletha de Witt (DSTI) | Pierre (SANSA) |
Day 2 — Implementation for Pillars 2–8 (overview and interactive sessions)
Time | Item | Lead/Owner | Session chair/moderator |
08:30–09:00 | Arrival & Tea/Coffee | Thutho Ndlovu (DSTI) | |
09:00–09:05 | Welcome, Recap & Objectives For the Day | Aletha de Witt (DSTI) | Patroba (UCT) |
09:05–09:20 | Pillar 3: Infrastructure & Operations
| Roelf Botha (SARAO) | Patroba (UCT) |
09:20–09:35 | Pillar 5: Data, Standards & Open Access | Patrick Vorster (DLRRD) | Patroba (UCT) |
09:35–09:50 | Pillar 6: Reference Systems & Regional Frames | Aslam Parker (DLRRD) | Patroba (UCT) |
09:50–10:05 | Panel Discussion / Q&A | All speakers from this session | Moderator: Mulemwa (UKZN) |
10:05–10:30 | Breakout Session | All | Mulemwa (UKZN) |
10:30–11:00 | Tea/Coffee Break | ||
11:00–11:20 | Feedback from breakout session | Roelf Botha (SARAO) | Hubert (DSTI) |
11:20–11:35 | Pillar 7: People (HCD) | Patroba Odera & Siphiwe Mphuthi (UCT) & Mulemwa Akombelwa (UKZN) | Hubert (DSTI) |
11:35–11:45 | Pillar 2: Advocacy & Comms | Aletha de Witt (DSTI) | Hubert (DSTI) |
11:45–12:00 | Panel Discussion / Q&A | All speakers from this session | Moderator: Hubert (DSTI) |
12:00–12:30 | Breakout Session | All | Hubert (DSTI) |
12:30–13:30 | Lunch | ||
13:30–13:50 | Feedback from breakout session | Siphiwe Mphuthi (UCT) | Aslam (DLRRD) |
13:50–14:00 | Pillar 4: Spectrum Protection | Tebogo Mashile (DSTI) and Selaelo Matlhane (SARAO) | Aslam (DLRRD) |
14:00–14:15 | Pillar 8: R&D & Next-Gen Supply Chain | Aletha de Witt (DSTI), Roelf Botha (SARAO) and Nandi Mtethwa (RISS) | Aslam (DLRRD) |
14:15–14:30 | Panel Discussion / Q&A | All speakers from this session | Moderator: Aslam (DLRRD) |
14:30–15:00 | Breakout Session | All | Aslam (DLRRD) |
15:00–15:30 | Tea/Coffee Break | ||
15:30–15:50 | Feedback from breakout session | Aletha de Witt (DSTI) | Roelf Botha (SARAO) |
15:50–16:15 | Summary, Highlights of Workshop, and Way Forward | Aslam Parker (DLRRD) | Roelf Botha (SARAO) |
16:15–16:30 | Close & communiqué | Takalani Nemaungani (DSTI), DDGs (Mr C Mokonoto - DSTI + Mr S Mdubeki - DLRRD) | Takalani (DSTI) |
