Page 38 - EngineerIT September 2022

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

CSIR and SIU join forces in deployment of

advanced technologies to curb corruption

he use of advanced technology to curb fraud, corruption
and cyber-related crimes received a massive boost when
Tthe Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
and Special Investigation Unit (SIU) agreed to collaborate in
capacitating the country with fraud and corruption prevention
tools.
On 22 August 2022, the head of the SIU, advocate Andy
Mothibi, and the CSIR CEO, Dr Thulani Dlamini, signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expressing their
commitment to sharing expertise and skills to drive research,
development and innovation in the fields of data science and
information and cyber security.
The signing of the MoU between the two government entities
signals a coordinated effort to enhance the use of technology live in a digitised world and criminals are using technology to
to fight the scourge of corruption and maladministration in the their advantage – we cannot be left behind. The expertise and
country. The organisations agreed to collaborate on a variety technology that the CSIR is offering the SIU are needed in order
of strategic areas, which include enhancing data analytics and to fulfill our mandate. We cannot fight crime alone, which is why
sharing, digital forensics, information and cybersecurity, artificial this partnership is important to the SIU,” said Adv. Mothibi.
intelligence, distributed ledger technology or blockchain and Dr Dlamini hailed the partnership as critical, saying that it
cyber infrastructure support. forms part of the continuous role that the CSIR is playing to
The partnership will see capability building in the support a capable state.
development of digital investigation tools, digital forensic “The fight against corruption and cybercrimes is a major
investigations and analysis, cloud and high-performance issue in South Africa and the work of the CSIR contributes to
computing to uproot cybercrimes before they occur. the creation of a capable state, amongst other things. Through
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Pretoria, Adv. Mothibi this partnership, the CSIR will utilise its research, development
lauded the collaboration as a step in the right direction to and innovation capabilities, particularly in the areas of
fighting cybercrimes. “Our partnership with the CSIR is in line data science, information security, blockchain and artificial
with the SIU’s strategy of detecting fraud and corruption early intelligence to support the SIU’s efforts to combat corruption and
and having systems in place that prevent these crimes. We cybercrimes,” said Dr Dlamini.

Grade 9 learners gain insight and inspiration at

engineering camp

n exciting taste of all things engineering was
given to 208 Grade 9 learners – 122 girls and
A86 boys – from schools around Johannesburg
in July at PROTEC’s first GE (formerly General
Electric) Next Engineers camp at Wits University.
The GE Next Engineers programme, designed
to inspire the next generation of engineers to build
a more innovative, sustainable world and boost
the uptake of engineering as a career, launched
in Johannesburg at the start of 2022. PROTEC was
selected by the GE Foundation, through FHI 360,
as the South African NGO best equipped to be the

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