National Research Foundation (NRF)
Public Entity · Social Services · reports to Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI)
The National Research Foundation supports and promotes research and human capital development across all fields of knowledge. It was established under the National Research Foundation Act, 1998 (Act No. 23 of 1998).
It funds postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, supports researchers through a rating system that benchmarks them against international standards, funds research chairs and centres of excellence, and administers bilateral and multilateral research agreements.
It also operates several national research facilities, including the South African Astronomical Observatory, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory which runs MeerKAT and hosts South Africa’s part of the Square Kilometre Array, iThemba LABS, the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity and the South African Environmental Observation Network. It reports to the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Audit record, 5 years
Financial highlights, 2024/25
- Total Revenue
- R5.4bn
- Total Expenditure
- −R5.4bn
- Total Assets
- R5.4bn
- Total Liabilities
- R2.1bn
Values in rand. Sparklines run oldest to newest and are scaled to each series, not to zero.
Leadership, 22 listed
- Chairperson
- Prof Ari Sitas
- Board Members
- Mr Mark Brits Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela Prof Glenda Gray Ms Funeka Khumalo Dr Len Konar Ms Lahlane Malema Prof Pamela Maseko Prof Teboho Moja Dr Mathetha Mokonyama Dr Ntombi Mutshekwane Prof Nadine Petersen Prof Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya Mr Mavuso Shabalala
- Chief Executive Officer
- Dr Angus Paterson
- Chief Financial Officer
- Mr Bishen Singh
- Senior Management
- Dr Sepo Hachigonta Ms Cassandra Mfana Dr Gugu Moche Dr Angus Paterson Ms Charlene Sheraton
- Communications Officers
- Ms Tandi Mapukata
Description written for this directory from the entity’s own published sources: www.nrf.ac.za, www.gov.za