President Jacob Zuma in his recent cabinet reshuffle appointed Mr Radhakrishna L Padayachie (Roy) as the Minister of Communications and Mr Obed Bapela as his deputy.
Minister Padayachie brings to the organisation the leadership capability in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector. Having served as the deputy minister of the Communications department from 2004 to 2009, his appointment has been welcomed by stakeholders in the sector.
The appointment of Mr Padayachie will accelerate policy implementation in areas such as reducing the cost of communication; bridging the digital gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged communities; skills development in the ICT sector as well as turning South Africa into a globally competitive country and ICT hub.
The appointment of Deputy Minister Bapela will also strengthen the Ministry in the area of policy development as he has been chairing the Global Centre on the ICT Board in Parliament, an initiative of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Minister Padayachie expressed appreciation for the contribution made by General (Ret) Siphiwe Nyanda and Ms Dina Pule to the Department of Communication, who served in their capacities as minister and deputy minister respectively. Both ministers come from a long tradition of service and sacrifices. Minister Padayachie and Deputy Minister Bapela commit to further strengthening the foundation of work that they have established in the ICT sector and wish them well.
“The Department of Communications will continue to focus on harnessing ICTs to respond to the challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality in the country and will work at a faster pace to change the lives of the poor. ICTs will further be used as one of the critical catalysts in the implementation of the Economic Growth Path. We will also use ICTs to realise government’s vision to build a developmental state that will address the socio-economic challenges and create a better life for all. ” commented Dr Wesso, the Acting Director General of the department.
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