McKay Motshabi, who will vacate his post as GM of R&D at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) this month, in exchange for a management position at Microsoft SA, denies it is a case of switched loyalties.
Motshabi's role has been central to SITA's task of procuring IT on behalf of government. He has come to be seen as a champion of open source software in government, in line with government's wish to improve its service delivery through cost-effective technology.
In truth, said Motshabi at the weekend, his brief at SITA is to propose technology that saves money, is secure and contributes to the development of skills and the local IT industry. "These are qualities that proprietary software can also lay claim to. And so the argument as to which is better becomes moot."
Motshabi explains: "My position has always been that open source is not an end in itself. You can take many positions on the OSS-versus-proprietary issue; some people are blatantly anti-Microsoft, but I think there is potential for collaboration."
His new role entails giving strategic input into Microsoft's government focus. Motshabi says his original ideals are intact, "so I don't really see moving as switching loyalties".
New agenda
As national technology officer at Microsoft SA, Motshabi will fill one of three government-focused positions on the payroll. "I will be dealing with the technocrats in government, focusing on understanding their technology needs, and providing strategic input into Microsoft's response."
Mike Cathie, business and marketing officer at Microsoft, refers to the role as "focusing on engagement with senior government, education and business leaders on IT strategy".
Motshabi will on one level report to country MD Gordon Frazer, and on another to the CTO for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Asked whether he had been pursued aggressively by Microsoft, he says. "I was head-hunted. Only at short-listing stage did Microsoft become aware that it was me. They just wanted to fill Moss Gondwe's role [as public sector sales director]."
Motshabi adds that Gondwe's role had been sales-focused, whereas he himself would "never be in any role other than strategic". He says the position indicates relative regional maturity, and features in only 25 of Microsoft's countries of presence. It informs strategy at the highest level of the organisation, including research and development.
He adds that he would continue to contribute to projects that he had been involved in at SITA.
One of the first items on his wish list is more regional R&D investment from his new employer.
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