Inaugural geodesy workshop seeks to bolster South Africa's national geodetic capacity

South Africa's leadership and role in global and African geodesy is being discussed at the inaugural workshop of the South African Geodesy Working Group (SAGWG), taking place from 1 to 2 October in Cape Town. Hosted at the South African  Astronomical Observatory, an entity of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the gathering draws together representatives of government, academia, industry and international partners.

Geodesy is the science of measuring and understanding the Earth's shape, orientation in space, gravity field and its changes over time. It underpins critical aspects of modern life, from GPS navigation and precision agriculture to climate monitoring, disaster resilience and satellite operations.

South Africa is home to Africa's only fundamental geodetic station, which plays a vital role in the global geodesy supply chain. The SAGWG was established to, among other things, strengthen South Africa's national geodetic capacity and coordination, secure sustainable investment in geodetic infrastructure and expertise, reinforce South Africa's contributions to global geodesy governance and lead the development of the Global Geodetic Observing System Africa, a new continental coordinating body for geodesy.

The workshop is significant in positioning South Africa and Africa as leaders in the global geodetic landscape, ensuring the continent's voice is heard in shaping the invisible framework that holds our world together.

The media are invited as follows:

Date: 1 and 2 October 2025
Time: 08:30 to 16:00
Venue: South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town

For inquiries, please contact Thandile Nkoyi at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..