Durban - Government refuses to allow South Africa's indigenous knowledge to be stolen and is taking measures to document the important information.
This was one of the key messages that emerged on day one of the 2010 Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Expo held at the Albert Luthuli International Conference Centre.
The IKS Expo, hosted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the KZN government, aims to raise public awareness and understanding of indigenous knowledge.
One of the main problems that face South Africa is that indigenous knowledge is mainly passed on from generation to generation orally.
In the past, traditional methods of doing things in the health and economic environments were considered primitive and outdated.
"Indigenous knowledge fell outside the parameters of mainstream science and technology. Questions have been raised about why government if investing in documenting indigenous knowledge. But we take indigenous knowledge very seriously," said Department of Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.
Pandor said that South Africa too can benefit financially by using traditional practises and products as in the cases of Brazil and India.
The expo is just one part of a ten year innovation plan which seeks to turn the country into a leading force in pharmaceutical, nutritional and cosmetics industries.
"We have made it part of our ten-year innovation plan... to establish South Africa as a world leader in pharmaceuticals based on the nation's indigenous resources and expanding knowledge base," said Pandor.
Rob Slotow, University of KwaZulu-Natal Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Sciences, said the country can no longer emulate strategies of the developed world and South Africa has a golden opportunity to harness their own systems.
Pandor also emphasised that bio piracy continues to be one of the greatest threats facing South Africa.
"Government is working towards putting in place a legal framework that will put a definite end to multi-national companies and local companies neglecting their obligations to seek prior informed consent, and to share benefits when using biological resources from the developing countries as required by national laws," said Pandor.
The protection of indigenous knowledge is an issue that also effects other departments including Health, Trade and Industry, Environment and Tourism, and Agriculture and Land Affairs.
The National Recordal system will be developed to record and store indigenous knowledge for the benefit of communities.
In the first phase, calculating systems will be tested at six sites in four provinces, of which one is KwaZulu-Natal.
The goal to capture all the indigenous knowledge is being viewed as a legacy project for the future generations of South Africans.
Government has called for a new generation of researchers in indigenous knowledge. Also, for academics in the field to start writing books to help the international community and future South Africans to appreciate what valuable information can offer.
The expo coincides with the Traditional Medicine Conference (TMC) that takes place from today until the end of the month.
