[SDI-Africa] FW: [OSGeo Africa] Good news for Open Source in South Africa

[Craig von Hagen]

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From: africa-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [mailto:africa-bounces at lists.osgeo.org]
On Behalf Of Gavin Fleming
Sent: 23 February 2007 16:00
To: africa at lists.osgeo.org
Subject: [OSGeo Africa] Good news for Open Source in South Africa

 

South African Cabinet endorsement of FLOSS policy proposals last week bode
well for the OSGeo Africa community. 

 

Cabinet goes for open source software  
Lesley Stones, Business Day 23 Feb 07

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Information Technology Editor

THE cabinet has reconfirmed a commitment to use more free and open source
software in government departments to slash its technology running costs and
increase the opportunities for local software developers, according to
government spokesman Themba Maseko. 

Unlike costly brand name packages, open source software is free to use and
can be modified to suit the needs of its users. Wednesday's cabinet meeting
revolved all new software developed for government would use open rather
then proprietary standards, and that the software now in use would gradually
be replaced by open source alternatives. That would eliminate annual licence
fees and enhance local development skills, Maseko said. 

The repercussions for software companies threaten to be enormous, as
government is SA's largest spender on technology. But a policy of gradually
switching to open source has been in place since early 2003, with little
noticeable effect so far. Now a new date has been proposed, with a project
office to be set up by April to ensure a smooth transition throughout SA.

 

 

Gavin Fleming MSc

Senior GISc and Sustainable Development Researcher 

Mintek 

w: +27-11-709-4668

c: 0845965680

f: 0866164820

xmpp (Jabber, Google Talk, etc.):  <mailto:gavinjfleming at gmail.com>
gavinjfleming at gmail.com

Skype: phlemingo

postal: P/Bag X3015, Randburg, 2125

physical: 200 Hans Strijdom Drive, Randburg

South Africa

27.9782E 26.0896S

 

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