Foreword : policy document

The Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Policy is an enabling framework to stimulate and strengthen the contribution of indigenous knowledge to social and economic development in South Africa. The main IKS Policy drivers in the South African context include: The affirmation of African cultural values in the face of globalisation - a clear imperative given the need to promote a positive African identity; Practical measures for the development of services provided by IK holders and practitioners, with a particular focus on traditional medicine, but also including areas such as agriculture, indigenous languages and folklore; Underpinning the contribution of indigenous knowledge to the economy - the role of indigenous knowledge in employment and wealth creation; and Interfaces with other knowledge systems, for example indigenous knowledge is used together with modern biotechnology in the pharmaceutical and other sectors to increase the rate of innovation. To implement this policy, the following functions, institutions and legislative provisions will be required: lulg llig An Advisory Committee on Indigenous Knowledge Systems, reporting to the Minister of Science and Technology; A development function; including, academic and applied research, development and innovation in respect of IKS; A recordal system for indigenous knowledge and indigenous knowledge holders; where appropriate, to pro-actively secure their legal rights; The promotion of networking structures among practitioners, to be located in the Department of Science and Technology; and Legislation to protect intellectual property associated with indigenous knowledge, to be administered by the Department of Trade and Industry. l/ligl/ulg