The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Buti Manamela will visit the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS), a business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and a public entity managed by the Department of Science and Innovation. The facility brings together scientists working in the physical, medical and biological sciences.

The world-class facility conducts high-level nuclear science, notably in the medical field, including cancer and tumour treatments that provide greater precision than traditional treatments.

The Deputy Minister will tour the facility’s major projects including, the Nuclear Medicine and Isotope facilities and meet with the management including Dr Clifford Nxomani, Deputy Chief Executive Officer National Infrastructure Platforms and Dr Faical Azaiez, Managing Director of iThemba Labs.

iThemba Labs brings together scientists working in the physical, medical and biological sciences. The facility provides opportunities for research in subatomic physics, material research, radiobiology, and the research and development of unique radioisotopes for nuclear medicine and industrial applications. iThemba LABS have various collaboration agreements and joint training programmes with Higher Education Institutions and research laboratories around the world as a means to contribute to the human capital development mandate of the NRF.

Among the notable collaborations, is the partnership with the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) best known for major breakthroughs such as the historical discovery of the Higgs-Boson particle in 2012.

The research programme in fundamental physics at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has brought many opportunities for South Africa’s science community.

The media is invited to join the tour of the facility.

Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2020

Time: 09:30 – 13:00

Venue: iThemba Labs, Old Faure Road, Cape Town

RSVP: Please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 083 400 5750

For enquiries, contact Mandla Tshabalala, MLO in the Office of the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, at 084 304 6239 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..