About
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) was inaugurated in May 1996 by the former President of South Africa and patron of the Academy, Nelson Mandela.
Governance
The Academy is governed by a Council comprising 13 members. Twelve are elected from the membership and one is appointed by the Minister as representative of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI).
Membership
The core function of any national science academy is to honour and recognise the country’s most outstanding and celebrated scholars by electing them to Membership of the Academy.
Members
ASSAf Members are drawn from the full discipline spectrum. In 2021/2022, ASSAf has 632 Members drawn by self-categorisation from 11 categories. ASSAf is self-perpetuating and new Members are elected annually.