BUILDING AN ETHICAL LEADERSHIP FOR A TRANSFORMING SOUTH AFRICA

1. BUILDING AN ETHICAL LEADERSHIP FOR A TRANSFORMING SOUTH AFRICA Dr. Simanga. R. Kumalo Religion and Governance Programme School of Religion &Theology University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg Campus

2. Objectives of the Presentation • The topic seeks to explore the question of ethical leadership • This is because in the new South Africa we have been confronted by the issues of morality popularly referred to as the breakdown of the moral fiber. • It also concerns itself with the role of the religious community because although ethics is not religion, but religion has a lot to do with the ethical decisions that people make especially in a religious continent like Africa.

3. Objectives continued… • It argues that all sectors of society must be involved in the processes of transforming and make their own unique contribution for the benefit of the country as a whole, but its focus is on the religious sector. • It argues for collaboration between government and the religious community.

4. Key questions answered by this presentation • What is ethical leadership? • Who defines it ? • Who builds ethical leadership? • What is the role of the religious community in this project? • How does it do that?

5. Defining Ethical Leadership • It is a contested terrain to define what is ethical leadership. • It is also a political project in today’s South Africa, treading on dangerous ground.

6. Ethical… • Ethical can simply be defined as what is deemed to be the good behaviour of individuals within a particular community which is consistent with their norms, values ,standards and aspirations. It is do with the basic principles of behaviour.

7. Ethical • Behavior: It has to do with practices, decisions underpinned by beliefs. • Community: it is negotiated by a particular community through their norms, values and standards. Ethics must be about the people. • Aspirations: It has to do with the vision, needs and dreams of the community.It is for the greater good of the whole community other than that of the individual

8. Ethical • Community: It means that it is the community that must build and accept what is to be deemed as ethical. • The community set up the standards of behavior for their leaders and themselves (constitution). • The community through their institutions and organizations enforce ethical behavior (civil society, paralegals etc) • It must also protect the institutions and mechanisms that guard against unethical behavior by their leaders ( section 9 institutions and the judiciary).

9. Leadership • It is the ability to influence people to work towards achieving the desired goals.

10. What is the Problem • Since the dawning of democracy in SA a lot has been achieved., development, houses etc. • Challenge: has been ethical leadership • Africa has had leaders of liberation but not leaders of reconstruction and development (Ali Mazrui). • In the struggle against apartheid all were involved after apartheid the politicians go it alone without the other sectors of society e.g civil society and religious leaders.

11. Why do we have this problem?…. • Lack of experience of leadership • Rapid changes in society with people struggling to catch up. • Human sinfulness of greed • Myopic vision of liberation, liberation vs justice. • Individualism vs community

12. Unethical Leadership in SA • Rampant corruption • Kickbacks on tenders, • Wars amongst the ruling elites. • Hypermoralistic behavior

13. The role of the Religious Community. • In the African context life is holistic both religious and secular.(JS. Mbiti, ATR & Philosophy, 1970) • Ethics is not religion but religion shapes the ethical choices and practices that people make. • People’s ethical and moral decisions are informed by their religious, cultural, social, economic and political experiences and convictions

14. How do we build ethical leadership continued….. • People’s sacred texts: the Bible, the Quran and the Gitta etc. • Educational institutions: from craddle to grave • Educational and business institutions.

15. How does the community build ethical leadership • It starts from the family which inculcate an ethical culture (no one is born ethical but we learn ethical behaviour) and this is difficult where the family as an institution is collapsing • People’s cultures, norms and values • People’s sacred spaces- mosques, churches, temples, river banks, caves etc.

16. How can the religious communities contribute • Moving away from the peripheries of society to the centre or denominational to the public sphere where the rubber hits the road. • Protect the institutions that inculcates and guard over our freedom and democracy • Promoting collaboration between between religion and government based on the principle of relative autonomy • Cooperation as opposed to cooption

17. Types of spaces of cooperation between religion and organs of the state. • Invited spaces- When government invite the religious community • Invented spaces- When the religious community intent a space to invite dialogue with them in their own terms and environment. • Invaded spaces- when government officials just take over the space and dominate. • Involved spaces –negotiated space with memorandum of understanding leading to joint programmes

18. Conclusion……. GRACE AND PEACE