DSTI Delegation Led by Director General Dr Mlungisi Cele Visits ICGEB Cape Town
High-level delegation engages with researchers from eighteen nations as both institutions map the future of biotechnology research in Africa
When Dr Mlungisi Cele, Director General of South Africa's Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), walked through the doors of ICGEB Cape Town on 6 February 2026, he stepped into a facility where scientists from eighteen nations are tackling some of the continent's most pressing health and agricultural challenges.
It was his first visit to the Cape Town Component and it signals a deepening commitment between two institutions shaping the future of biotechnology research in South Africa and beyond.
High-Level Engagement
Dr Cele led a DSTI delegation that included Dr Kenny Tenza, Acting Deputy Director General for Technology Innovation, alongside other departmental colleagues. They were welcomed by ICGEB Director-General Dr Lawrence Banks and ICGEB Cape Town Director Dr Luiz Zerbini.
The morning was spent in direct engagement with the centre's Group Leaders, fellows, researchers and administrative team an opportunity for both sides to take stock of their strategic partnership and chart its next chapter.
Where Science Meets Impact
At the heart of the discussions were the research programmes that make ICGEB Cape Town a hub of scientific excellence. The centre's work spans infectious diseases including emerging viruses and HIV, cancer genomics, bioinformatics, and plant biology covering biopesticides and plant systems biology.
But research is only part of the picture. The delegation also examined initiatives designed to widen participation in science fellowships for South African women in biotechnology and dedicated capacity building programmes for researchers and students at Historically Disadvantaged Institutions. These efforts reflect a shared vision: scientific excellence must be accompanied by transformation.
A Continental Footprint
As Dr Cele toured the facility, he encountered a research community that extends far beyond South Africa's borders. Fellows from Djibouti, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, eSwatini, Sudan and other African nations are conducting research at the centre; evidence of ICGEB Cape Town's emergence as a truly pan-African institution.
Eyes on May 2026
The visit also served as preparation for a milestone event: the ICGEB Board of Governors meeting, set to take place in Cape Town in May 2026. That gathering will bring global attention to the city and provide a platform to showcase the centre's contributions to science on the continent.
A Partnership With Momentum
The 6 February visit was more than a courtesy call. It was a working session between two institutions aligned in their ambition to position South Africa as a leader in biotechnology research, to build scientific capacity across Africa, and to ensure that world-class research translates into real-world impact.
The visit reaffirms the deepening collaboration between ICGEB and South Africa's DSTI, a partnership positioning the country as a leader in biotechnology research and capacity building on the continent.
