SACEMA was launched during May 2006 as a Centre of Excellence by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation.

Role in South Africa

SACEMA will play a key role in bringing local and international expertise together to focus on critical problems relevant to the South African community. Epidemiological research will be conducted, aiming at providing valuable information to contribute to the alleviation of the effects of major diseases. At the same time, SACEMA will provide training opportunities for young mathematicians to build and develop South African capacity in this field.

In addition to conducting pertinent research, SACEMA will act as an information broker, maintaining and interpreting data and research results for appropriate users. Networking with key stakeholders, government, business and civil society, will play a crucial role in the Centre’s ability to be effective in contributing to the understanding of disease.

Governance

The Centre exists as an entity under the SACEMA Board of Trustees, which has legal and fiduciary accountability for SACEMA. The Board is thus responsible for ensuring the Centre meets the overall objectives of the annual funding provided by the Department of Science and Technology.

SACEMA is also overseen by a DST-NRF Board, whose role is as follows:

• to approve CoE business plans
• to receive annual progress reports,
• to monitor, evaluate and comment on performance and
• to monitor and advise on finances and budget.

A Scientific Advisory Committee has also been established to advise and assist the Director and Board of Trustees regarding scientific matters. This board consists of members well-known internationally for their contributions to the field of epidemiology and mathematical modelling.