The CSIR has appointed a nine-member advisory board for its Open Source (OS) Centre to represent the various players in the ICT sector and provide advice to the centre on key issues.
Nhlanhla Mabaso, head of the centre, says the board includes CSIR CEO Sibusiso Sibisi, Mark Shuttleworth from The Shuttleworth Foundation, Kgatelopelo Technologies` Jacqueline Khumalo, Esme du Plessis of Adams & Adams, Obsidian`s Muggie Van Staden, Lyndall Shope-Mafole of the Presidential National Commission on Information Society and Development, the Department of Science and Technology`s Imraan Saloojee, Glenda White of the Centre for Public Service Innovation, Alan Hirsch from The Presidency, and Mike Jensen, an independent consultant working with African governments on Internet connectivity issues.
Mabaso says an academic will also be appointed to the board once a suitable candidate has been found.
"The board will provide broad stakeholder representation from the sector, insight and advice on various issues and will give a sense of ownership to the industry," he says.
The OS Centre was launched on 10 October to stimulate the adoption of OS software in the private, public and education sectors on the African continent.
"In the private sector, the aim is to stimulate the development of OS software and build partnerships for growing the ICT industry. There have already been a number of major discussions on OS and our aim is to formalise initiatives that are already happening, committing to their success," he says.
As part of its involvement in the private sector, Mabaso says advisory board member Mark Shuttleworth has called on the sector to contribute to an OS coalition.
"Mark Shuttleworth started the pool with a donation of R3 million. He has challenged members of the private sector to be part of the pool by contributing R2 million over two years. The money will be used to fund OS initiatives that have a common interest for all."
In the public sector, Mabaso says the centre will advise and monitor government systems and examine where OS can optimise benefits for government.
In the education sector, he says OS software will be promoted as a teaching and learning platform, underpinned by the development of relevant training materials.
"The centre is also looking to have an OS equivalent to the international computer driver`s licence, enabling users to get specific training in the use of OS software."
He says the centre has adopted as its theme the concept of "Meraka" - the Sotho term for common grazing land, kept for the common good and used by people for private or communal productive activity.
Looking ahead, Mabaso says his vision for the centre is to make current OS partnerships more effective and make people more aware of OS software and its benefits.
"With five full-time staff, the centre is small. Our aim is therefore to fill the gaps in existing OS initiatives, and to identify and close the gaps in terms of OS competitiveness," he says.
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