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Keitumetse Molamo: Leading South Africa’s Social Impact Through Science
How a South African engineer is shaping innovation that goes beyond the stars
South Africa has long been home to big dreams in science, but few people embody the link between cosmic exploration and real-world impact quite like Keitumetse Molamo. As head of Engineering and Technology Development at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), Molamo leads projects that not only look to the universe but also bring solutions back to Earth.
SARAO manages major facilities such as the MeerKAT radio telescope and oversees South Africa’s role in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the world’s most ambitious radio telescope project being built across continents. For Molamo, though, success is measured not just in discoveries about the universe but in how science improves lives at home.
From stargazing to saving lives
Molamo grew up dreaming of working in the space sector. Today, she uses that dream to connect science with society. One of the clearest examples is how technology developed to handle the enormous data streams from MeerKAT has found new life in healthcare. Algorithms first designed for astronomy have been adapted to accelerate medical imaging, including MRI scans, giving doctors sharper tools to diagnose illness.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Molamo and her team worked with industry and healthcare experts to design and manufacture 20,000 ventilators through the National Ventilator Project. These locally produced devices were deployed in hospitals across the country, proving that astronomy’s spin-offs can save lives in the most direct way.
Now, her team is developing affordable prosthetics that could make life-changing technology accessible to South Africans who cannot afford the current market prices. For Molamo, these innovations are the best proof that “big science” can also mean big impact on daily life.
Building more than telescopes
While the SKA and MeerKAT dominate headlines, Molamo emphasises that projects of this scale are also about building people, industries, and skills. At SARAO, students from across Africa are trained through bursaries, internships, and research placements. Many of them have gone on to influential roles in science and technology worldwide.
Local companies are also pulled into the fold, supplying components and services that strengthen South Africa’s economy and transfer vital expertise into new industries. For Molamo, these ripple effects are just as important as the telescopes themselves. “We measure success not only by published papers or the sensitivity of instruments, but by how many students become professionals, how many businesses gain new skills, and how many African countries can join the frontier of science,” she explains.
A leader who connects the dots
With degrees in engineering, information technology, and an MBA, Molamo is uniquely placed to bridge technical, scientific, and business worlds. She brings engineers, scientists, and managers together in teams where disciplines blend seamlessly. Her role, as she puts it, is “to translate scientific ambition into engineering reality while creating an environment where diverse experts can thrive.”
That approach has made SARAO more than just a research hub. It has become a model of how South Africa can grow into a powerhouse of technical talent and innovation.
Inspiring the next generation
Molamo’s message to young South Africans is clear: you don’t have to leave the continent to make a global impact. “The work we do shows you can innovate at the frontier right here, solving African problems with African ingenuity,” she says.
Her advice is practical: focus on solving real community challenges, tap into the support networks that exist through universities and incubators, and remain adaptable in the face of uncertainty. Above all, she believes success should be measured collectively. Every breakthrough that builds skills, creates jobs, and inspires others is a step toward transforming South Africa into a global tech hub.
Keitumetse Molamo’s story is not only about telescopes or data. It is about proving that the skills needed to explore the universe can also transform lives on Earth. From ventilators to prosthetics, from training the next generation to strengthening local industries, she represents the kind of leadership South Africa needs: grounded in science but always focused on people.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: LinkedIn/Keitumetse Molamu, PrEng, MBA, IEEE Senior Member
