Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology has lauded the achievements of retiring Square Kilometer Array (SKA) South Africa project director Dr Bernie Fanaroff, commending his “immeasurable contribution and hard work” in leading the team that successfully built the Karoo Array Telescope and won the bid to bring the biggest global astronomy project to Africa.

Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor announced in November that Fanaroff would retire from the position at the end of this year, after which he would serve as a strategic adviser to the project until December 2017.

Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa president Dr Rob Adam would succeed Fanaroff.

Committee chairperson Dr Bevan Goqwana said the committee was “happy” to have worked with Fanaroff, who had received a number of accolades for his work, including honorary doctorates from several universities, as well as the highest order of Mapungubwe.

“Dr Fanaroff’s public service passion was displayed when he left the University of the Witwatersrand as a lecturer to join a trade union. He also worked in the Office of President Nelson Mandela, was head of the Office for the Reconstruction and Development Programme and was the deputy director-general of the Department of Safety and Security.

“[He] is not only a universally acclaimed and renowned astronomer and scientist, [but] has dedicated more than 20 years of his life in fighting injustice against workers and served as a government official,” Goqwana stated.