OpenOffice.org released in 3 South African languages
Computer Software in Zulu, Afrikaans, and Sepedi Breaks Down Language
Barriers to Learning and E-commerce

For Immediate Release
---------------------

Computer Software in South African languages available on Global
Software Freedom Day

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (19 August, 2004) – History is being made
with the translation of computer software into a number of South
Africa’s official languages ahead of the first annual Global Software
Freedom Day.

Translate.org.za, a South African software translation project, has
spent two years developing this software with the sponsorship of the
Shuttleworth Foundation, the Department of Communications, CSIR,
Obsidian Systems (a leading South African Linux and Open Source
company), Hewlett Packard (South Africa) and St James Software.

"We are about to launch the first  African language word processor,
quality software in South African language," said an ecstatic Dwayne
Bailey, founder and director of the Zuza Software Foundation, of which
Translate.org.za is an ongoing project.

"This is the first African's-helping-Africans, no strings attached
Free Software word processor. It has always been my dream that one
day fellow South Africans would be using computers with quality
software in their mother tongues. So far we have translated software
into Zulu, Sepedi and Afrikaans," he added.

Translate.org.za translator, Thobile Mhlongo, agrees. She said: "Using
OpenOffice.org in Zulu was phenomenal. Seeing my language used on a
computer made me think of all the school children, grannies and other
proud Zulu speakers who will use this software."

On August 28, 2004, the first annual Software Freedom Day (SFD) will
be celebrated worldwide, including many venues across South Africa. In
Gauteng, SITA is organising a series of events. Their keynote speaker
will be DPSA Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, who has shown interest
in the work of Translate.org.za

The aim of SFD is to make the world more aware of the virtues of Free
and Open Source Software (FOSS), and encourage its widespread use. The
day will be marked by a global grassroots marketing campaign and in
Gauteng a Linux installation festival.

Bailey will be a guest speaker at the Software Freedom Day celebrations
alongside Minister Fraser-Moleketi at the Di-Data Campus, which will be
attended by South African businesses, international and pan-African
companies, government and parastatals on August 28th, 2004.

Dwayne Bailey is available for interviews. His fields of specialisation
include:

        * Free and Open Source Software
        * Multilingualism
        * Software translation
        * Language rights advocacy

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Janet Sebastian (+27 82 584 0211)  @ Africa Reports
Linda Martindale (+27 83 270 0719) @ Africa Reports
 
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