The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) will on Friday, 25 March in a hybrid event launch a new registration system that both protects and promotes access to the rich indigenous knowledge (IK) of South Africa's communities.

Documenting over 20 000 claims of indigenous knowledge in various provinces, the Indigenous Knowledge Registration System (IKRS) is an initiative of the DSI that draws its vision and objectives from the Protection, Promotion, Development and Management of Indigenous Knowledge Act, 2019.

The IKRS was developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Next Generation Institute using a living lab approach. It features a portal that serves as the entry point to IK information, a secure digital repository system, and an official database containing a list of traditional medicines and their uses, side-effects and directions for use.

Researchers, policy-makers and IK practitioners will all benefit from the initiative, while communities will have an opportunity to contribute their knowledge, participate in and access benefit-sharing agreements, and become role players in the mainstream economy.

The launch is taking place under the theme "Promoting our indigenous knowledge, securing our tomorrow's treasures", and is a partnership between the DSI and North-West University's Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre, a leading African centre of excellence in IK teaching and research.

Members of the media are invited to attend the launch as follows:

Date:       25 March 2022

Venue:   Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, Menlyn, Pretoria

Time:      14:00 to 17:00

Link:        Register below to attend the event virtually:

               https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zSxs0GZGToiAVaL6GFEyTg

Issued by the Department of Science and Innovation

For media attendance and enquiries, please contact Veronica Mohapeloa at 083 400 5750 or Thabang Setlhare at 072 659 9690.