"The increasing role of information technology in government offers an integral tool for the strengthening of state institutions. Last year, at the eAfrica Conference, a conference about developing information technology in governance on our continent. Delegates--both politicians and officials--told of the challenges of providing government services in countries ravaged by decades of war, famine and political instability, where infrastructure is minimal.
"Along with IT development comes considerable cost. In a developing country like South Africa, billions are spent on software licences--billions of dollars in valuable foreign exchange, money going out the country that could be used to build houses, roads, hospitals and schools, are going to multi-national companies in order to use their software.
"Is there an alternative? Yes, and it is called Open Source Software (OSS)..."
