The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the denial by Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor that the government's newly launched SumbandilaSat satellite will not be used for any defence applications for either South Africa or any other country. She replied to a parliamentary question about the possible military use of the satellite - launched from Russia last month - by emphasising that it was "manufactured purely for research purposes and to strengthen South Africa's capabilities in space science and technology". SumbandilaSat's polar orbital path is directly overhead many of the world's non-democratic states with dodgy human rights records and who are quick to take up arms against their citizens and neighbours. The DA was concerned that the government may have been tempted to hire the satellite's earth-observation services in support of military agendas. This concern is supported by the fact that a number of applicants shortlisted for positions on the South African National Space Agency Board have extensive military backgrounds, citing defence technology research, missile engagement simulation exercises, training and expertise in electronic warfare, biological weapons and weapons of mass destruction. While the department's director general Dr Phil Mjwara assured the portfolio committee at parliament this week that there was no military intent behind the government's space policy, military expertise was essential on the board to guide policy decisions in support of peace-keeping missions, disaster emergency management, border security and coastal resource management. Ms Pandor's reply stressed that SumbandilaSat is "an experimental satellite with an earth observation primary payload which will be used for peaceful purposes".