Rustenburg - Academics must conduct applied research to help government respond meaningfully to communities' service delivery needs, North West premier Supra Mahumapelo said on Friday.
“Our view is that as significant social stakeholders, researchers must make a meaningful contribution and provide an informed guidance on whether government’s current system of providing services is still relevant in addressing current demands,” he said in a statement.
He said for government to deliver services most needed by communities, relevant data must be investigated through research.
He told more than 150 academics in Mahikeng, that the goals of the National Development Plan would not be richly achieved if government did not work with researchers and institutions of higher learning in making decisions relating to delivery of services.
Mahumapelo said researchers must also prioritise conducting research that was aimed at determining other areas of economic growth besides agriculture, tourism, culture and mining.
Sapa