The Department of Science and Innovation (DST; formerly the Department of Science and Technology) is the South African government department responsible for scientific research, including space programmes. The current Minister is Blade Nzimande.^[2]

Much of the department's work is ultimately carried out through various quasi-independent agencies (although still usually government bodies) including:

• the National Research Foundation, which receives a substantial proportion of the DST budget to carry out various research support tasks, including supporting key national research infrastructure ("National Research Facilities"), scientific research grant administration and a student grant scheme;
• the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which acts as a quasi-privatised research and development agency with a specific focus on research of application to industry;
• the Technology Innovation Agency, which serves to provide funding to turn innovative research into commercial products;
• the South African National Space Agency, which covers space-related research and development initiatives;
• the Human Sciences Research Council, which focuses its research on human health and disease.