Cape Town - Cabinet has approved a policy and strategy to implement Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in government, government communications head Themba Maseko said on Thursday.

Current software to be migrated

"All new software developed for or by the government will be based on open standards and government will itself migrate current software to FOSS," he told a media briefing at Parliament following Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.

This strategy would lower administration costs and enhance local information technology skills. Cabinet noted that all major IT vendors in the country had both supported the initiative and made contributions to developing FOSS, he said.

Government departments would incorporate FOSS in their planning immediately.

Smooth implementation

By April, a project office would be set up by the science and technology department, the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), and the State Information Technology Agency to ensure smooth implementation of FOSS throughout the country, Maseko said. - Sapa