By Douglas Carew
When President Thabo Mbeki met computer billionaire Bill Gates in New York last week, the result was a windfall of up to R100-million a year for South African schools, in perpetuity.
Gates's Microsoft organisation has promised to supply free computer software to 32 000 government schools and give private schools and universities 90 percent discounts, a gift that could be worth billions of rands over the years.
Mbeki announced the bonanza during his State of the Nation address at the opening of parliament in Cape Town on Friday.
'There is lots more to come. Watch this space' When Mbeki and Gates met at the World Economic Forum, Gates expressed his backing for the Mbeki-inspired New Partnership for Africa's Development and said active United States support was critical to its success.
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"At that forum president Mbeki said we needed action not words and this decision by Microsoft to supply free software to government schools is just the start of a process," said Mark Hill, managing director of the Microsoft Sub-Sahara African Region.
"This is a very big commitment, but there is lots more to come. Watch this space," he said.
Private schools and universities would also benefit as Microsoft would offer these institutions software licences at just 10 percent of the normal price.
The software would include a broad range of Microsoft products and schools would get the latest versions, depending on the capabilities of their computers, and would not have to buy upgrades every year.
"We are not talking about out-of-date hand-me-downs. This will be the latest technology and it will be given free to state schools in perpetuity," Hill said.
"For many years Microsoft South Africa has invested in youth and education-related programmes and we believe that if you provide people with the resources they need, they will accomplish great things."
The offer has been welcomed by the Western Cape Education Department.
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