Government yesterday took another step towards formalising plans for the use of open source software (OSS) when the Government IT Officers Council (Gitoc) approved an IT policy framework that advocates the use of open source software (OSS).
Arno Webb, Gitoc OSS workgroup chairman, says the policy framework will now be formally submitted to the minister of public service and administration as a recommended policy.
The policy framework, drawn up by the Gitoc OSS workgroup, advocates that government "explicitly" support the adoption of open source as part of its e-government strategy. Gitoc includes the CIOs of all the government departments.
The framework highlights the growing licence burdens proprietary software places on government, as well as the reliance on imported technologies and skills that proprietary software creates.
According to the framework, the use of OSS will "maximise the value of ICT budgets" through savings on dollar-based licence costs and efficiency gains.
This development follows close on the heels of an OSS workshop earlier this month in which the State IT Agency (SITA) committed to making government an "open source zone". The workshop was jointly hosted by the Department of Public Service and Administration, SITA and the Centre for Public Service Innovation.
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