Newly appointed communications minister Roy Padayachie has used his first press conference to speak out in favour of freedom of the media.

“We will always respect the right of media to engage openly and transparently,” Padayachie told journalists and industry executives.

“It is our view that the media is a critical force in the development of society and has a positive and leading role to play in educating the general public in importance of information and communications technology in the advancement of society’s goals and creation of a better life for our people.”

Declaring the department of communications “open for business”, Padayachie said he wanted to “do things differently” by working “faster, harder and smarter”.

The minister said he wished to instil a “culture of public service that is selfless and capable of sacrifice”. — Staff reporter, TechCentral