This is most definitely the case, and was one of the reasons that the South African Cabinet approved (and never rescinded?) the policy that indicated that all future software developed for government would be based on open standards, and that government would migrate its current software to open source.
It was all about reducing costs, and/or investing in the local economy to create jobs, and also to establish SA’s digital sovereignty.
Open source software provides a very low barrier of entry to learning, as well as for businesses. Importantly, it also makes it easy to examine how it works, and even to modify it (in other words, to customise it for local use).
Some claim that open source may not just be dropped in and ready for use in government. That is quite true, but it should still be a LOT cheaper than trying to implement Oracle ERP in a UK municipality? A country can’t really go wrong with using open standards (anyone can compete) and investing in local skills and businesses.
We have heard very little (to nothing) about open source in the South African government since 2008/2009 or so. It is very refreshing to see this being given some media time again.