Open Software & Open Standards in South Africa

National Advisory Council on Innovation Open Software Working Group

4/04/2008
(Original Publish Date: 1/15/2002)

Like governments in many countries (developed and developing), it is time for South Africa to promote open software and open standards. This accords with the priority given to the theme at the first meeting (October 2001) of the Presidential International Advisory Council on Information Society and Development. However, government action cannot be the sole objective. Various people and institutions in South Africa, including small and large companies, are already using open software products (notably Linux and associated software tools) precisely because they already have the freedom to do so rather than because they have been prompted by government policy. The bare minimum is to ensure that this freedom is not curtailed by introduction of inappropriate policy.