Johannesburg, 06 Nov 2003
Government is already harnessing the benefits of open source software (OSS) and has saved millions of rands in implementing OSS-based systems. Government is the country's largest user of open source software.
OSS is defined as an alternative to commercial software. It is typically developed through public collaboration, it is available to anyone (usually at little or no cost), it does not require proprietary licence fees and it may be freely re-distributed. Users also have access to the human readable version of the software called the 'source code', revealing the inner workings of the software and allowing its modification, hence the term 'open source'.
Benefits of OSS:
* OSS is dominantly error-free and resource-efficient over proprietary software.
* Proven security and reliability for mission-critical applications.
* Low cost and no eternal licence fees.
* Bridges the digital divide and ensuring affordable access to ICT.
* Gives the ability to modify software to suit one's specific needs.
* Eliminates economic loss, which results from duplicated work.
* Is inherently anti-monopolistic, and it may serve as an effective antidote for the monopolistic tendencies, which some economists believe, exist in the software industry.
SITA, CSIR, the Department of Arts and Culture, Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) have contributed to forming a strategy for the utilisation of OSS within government.
SITA group CIO Mojalefa Moseki said government can make significant savings on licensing, software procurement, support and upgrades through the use of OSS.
He said the Northern Cape is the largest provincial user of OSS. The Western Cape for example utilises an OSS-based document management solution and their provincial portal is based on an OSS platform. Throughout government various systems are based on OSS such as Web servers, firewalls and message transfer agents for the Internet.
"The Department of Land Affairs uses Linux and is about to implement Oracle on Linux," he explained.
Moseki said government has also benefited from increased levels of security and improved response times. Because the software is supported internally, software errors and support calls are responded to more quickly.
"We believe OSS is as good if not better than commercially available software. In many cases, it is more stable and more reliable," he explained.
"The message within government is to encourage the use of OSS but to make it mandatory. We also wish to encourage government to facilitate the establishment of OSS user groups. We also need to support OSS training and encourage participation in OSS projects," he added.
CSIR CEO Sibusiso Sibisi said that government should not be construed as campaigning against proprietary offerings.
"Government needs to investigate OSS as an alternative. In some cases proprietary software may be preferred and in other cases OSS. Government also needs to encourage OSS development activities. It must not reduce into a debate taking entrenched positions. But we do object strongly to people offering proprietary solutions criticising attempts to implement OSS solutions," he added.
Dr Sibisi stressed that OSS does not mean piracy. We do not advocate piracy. If software is for sale it needs to be paid for.
"The CSIR will put resources into OSS and is keen to form partnerships to encourage and facilitate its use. Our ultimate goal is to stimulate the birth of companies and entire industry based on OSS," he explained.