Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi says press freedom without interference and censorship is essential to ensure a thriving democracy.

This was the Minister’s message during his keynote address at the M20 Summit, which kicked off on Monday morning in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg.

The Summit is a two-day international conference that is running on the sidelines of the G20 programme in South Africa.

The main focus of the Summit is the role of media and journalism to foster information integrity as a cornerstone for human rights, effective governance, international cooperation and public trust needed for social and economic development.

Malatsi says it’s pivotal that media freedom is safeguarded at all costs.

Today I addressed the #M20 Summit, a gathering of global media voices alongside the G20.

I underlined that information integrity is the foundation of democracy and the lifeblood of economies. Yet media around the world face immense challenges: the spread of disinformation and… pic.twitter.com/7L17OgI1nG

— SollyMalatsi (@SollyMalatsi) September 1, 2025

Malatsi further adds that truth in information is a public good that underpins all other public goods in society, maintaining that if information technology is the foundation of democracy and development, then an independent media is its foremost guardian.

“A free press broadcasting a range of voices and perspectives is not just a luxury but a necessity for thriving democracies and we must emphasize that even at this forum that media freedom and diversity are essential safeguards of truth and we need to safeguard this with everything we have,” says Malatsi.

Malatsi also revealed that the only way to ensure media sustainability in South Africa is for government to partner with the private sector.

The communications minister says that by working with the private sector, they can come up with solutions to keep private media companies financially stable.

“So, we must work together as governments and the private sector to sustain these sustainable models for independent media. These could include independent funding mechanisms, fair competition policies and ensuring that dominant tech platforms do not unfairly take away advertising revenue that journalism depends on.”

Video | Malatsi reflects on importance of M20 Summit: