South African Gov't Declared An Open Source Zone

fungai writes "The Business Day reports that the South African government has decided to adopt open source software and develop support programs with local research institutes and universities. The CIO of the State IT Agency says: 'The logic for open-source is so compelling that after a year of debates we decided to stop talking and declare government an open-source zone.'"

Comments

first post?

[dimension6]

I'd have to say this is a good thing for the future of open source ...

Re:How will this affect apartheid?

[nicc777]

Hey - wake up dude! Apartheid died in '94...

cluestick

[MORTAR_COMBAT!]

The notiont of communism attracts powerhungry people because they have seen the way in which socialist or totalitarian states have applied communism to enslave the people.

There has not been a single communist country in the modern era, so how would you know if it only attracts naive and powerhungry people?

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
Imagine no possessions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say Im a dreamer,
But Im not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

People who think they know what communism is about tick me off. It is completely about openness and free choice.

Communism isn't BAD -- powerhungry people are BAD.

You think capitalism is better?

[HanzoSan]

Communism is bad, but no country has successfully been built on Capitalism.

Countries start off communist and then convert to capitalism.

Africa had slavery, USA had slavery, China started off Communist, Europe had slavery.

You act like Capitalism works before the infastructure is actually there to make it work.

Sure you can build a country on free Labor, but Communism is what works. How is Africa supposed to buy Microsofts software? Capitalism doesnt work because they are too poor, they must first build up their industries and economy.

Re:How will this affect apartheid?

[jthorpe]

Apartheid ("separate development") is more alive than ever in South Africa (and having living there most of my life, I am so disheartened to see how it's still in existance), but the now completely black government in power has swapped things over.

The apartheid is stronger than ever in South Africa, but instead of blacks being disadvantaged, everyone is.

Try living over there and see how long it is before someone you know (or even yourself, and especially if youre white) is killed for crimes based on race. This is one thing OSS software can't help (unfortunately).

Most people don't see this because South Africa's racist government has banned media coverage of murders and serious crimes - if no one sees these things happening, how will the "new apartheid" (aposed to the "new South Africa") ever be identified?

I have nothing against black people, but the majority of them are worse off now than they ever were during the apartheid.

Re:How will this affect apartheid?

[dipipanone]

Apartheid ("separate development") is more alive than ever in South Africa

Is that so? When did the South African government pass laws dictating who people could and couldn't marry, where they could and couldn't live and work? Where is it that they are throwing the weight of the regime into imprisoning people who challenge this system?

Oh yeah, that's right. They didn't, did they. They just moved over to a democratic system and you don't like the idea of being governed by a black majority. Well tough. My heart bleeds. Not.

I have nothing against black people, but the majority of them are worse off now than they ever were during the apartheid.

Yeah, yeah. Slave owners used to say the same thing about slavery as well. Funny how few black people say it though.

Re:How will this affect apartheid?

[nicc777]

The stuff you smoke is working :) "Try living over there and see how long it is before someone you know (or even yourself, and especially if youre white) is killed for crimes based on race." I am living in Johannesburg, and everyone is alive and well - thanks Also, there is no such thing as banned media coverage od murders and serious crimes. When it happens you hear it on radio, see it on TV and read about it in the papers - maybe you just got hold of the local town paper which wasn't too concerned about what happened hundreds of kilometers away. The only thing we are on agreement is your last centense. Especially in heatlhcare they are much more worse of then before.