Collaboration to adopt national open source strategy
9 September 2005

The Go Open Source Task Team Conference that brought together government departments, the private sector, academia and non-governmental organisations on 22 and 23 August 2005 at the Sandton Convention Centre, ended on a positive note with all the delegates signing a declaration to collaborate towards the adoption of a national open source strategy. [Declaration document can be downloaded from www.go-opensource.org]

CSIR participants and other delegates reaffirmed the central place that Free and Open Source Software and Open Content (FOSS/OC) have in the strategic use of ICTs in order to further socio-economic development in South Africa. The primary outcome of the conference was the view that a comprehensive national Free Software and Open Content strategy supports the South African national strategic objectives for socio-economic development; to improve competitiveness, support local innovation and investment, broaden BEE participation in the economy, build a better world, improve the reach and efficiency of government service delivery and in doing so reduce poverty and redress imbalances of the past.

The conference identified the following benefits of Free Software and Open Content:

• It supports the local IT industry and digital self-sufficiency;
• It supports entrepreneurship and business formation;
• It supports innovation, local solutions and learning;
• It promotes collaboration and open standards;
• It supports local content creation and consumption;
• It reduces vendor dependence and lock-in;
• It allows market entry for firms that would otherwise be unable to withstand corporate competition;
• It raises the profile of South Africa in the global economy and narrows the digital divide;
• It puts user needs first;
• It promotes transparent and accountable government.

Delegates affirmed that a successful strategy on Free Software and Open Content should include both technological and environmental elements, that Free Software and Open Content are characterised by accessibility, collaboration, interoperability, open standards, transparency, customisability, contribution and open licensing.

Mark Shuttleworth, founder of the Shuttleworth Foundation says: "We have taken a substantial step towards a position of global leadership in the move to free software and open content. The policy and strategy outlined in the conference declaration have been presented to President Mbeki and members of the Cabinet this weekend at the Presidential International Advisory Commission on ICT, and we look forward to real projects that bring the benefits of this global trend to South Africa and the African continent."

National Free Software and Open Content Strategy: The draft strategy produced during the conference is found at the website mentioned above. A summary of the roadmap, and projects identified during the conference as part of that strategy are reproduced below. All project updates can be found on http://wiki.go-opensource.org/taskforce

Initiation Phase (6 to 18 months)

• Disseminate information within Government;
• Initiate trial use and development;
• Establish a global position and maintain strategic partnerships;
• Consult with partners and stakeholders;
• Establish and execute a supporting research programme;
• Consolidate support capacity;
• Include Free Software and Open Content utilisation in short and medium-term plans;
• Level playing fields;
• Develop and execute a supporting communication strategy;
• Establish and nurture a legislative environment that supports the development and use of Free Software and Open Content as envisaged in the strategy

Enhancement Phase (1 to 3 years)

• Implement projects defined during the previous phase;
• Standardise software selection process;
• Ensure best practice software development processes;
• Aggressively pursue Free Software and Open Content capacity development

Mature Phase (3+ years)

• Standardise and monitor content gateways;
• Sustain and enhance systems and procedures on ongoing basis;
• Seek to expand and deepen levels of implementation

Short Term Projects: Science and Technology

• Open Source Science Web Site;
• Free Knowledge Communities;
• Online publications;
• Collaboration on the development of FOSS research tools and platforms

Trade and Finance

• Taxpayer XML schemes;
• Intellectual Property Rights;
• Free Software and Open Content Competency Centre;
• Major transversal ICT project information sharing;
• Rural agricultural information dissemination

Administration

• PABX replacement and installation;
• Document Management Systems;
• FOSS File Servers;
• FOSS on the desktop;
• GIS viewer

Education

• South African living archive

Infrastructure

• Preload Open Source solution for small business;
• Integrated Case Management Systems (Correctional Services);
• Production of learning materials in different languages;
• Water demonstration projects;
• Civic Network for Service Delivery to Citizens.