BUILDING AN ETHICAL BUILDING AN ETHICAL LEADERSHIP FOR A LEADERSHIP FOR A

TRANSFORMING SOUTH TRANSFORMING SOUTH AFRICAAFRICA

Dr. Simanga. R. Kumalo Dr. Simanga. R. Kumalo Religion and Governance ProgrammeReligion and Governance Programme

School of Religion &Theology School of Religion &Theology University of KwaZulu-NatalUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalPietermaritzburg CampusPietermaritzburg Campus

Objectives of the Objectives of the PresentationPresentation

The topic seeks to explore the question of The topic seeks to explore the question of ethical leadershipethical leadership

This is because in the new South Africa we This is because in the new South Africa we have been confronted by the issues of have been confronted by the issues of morality popularly referred to as the morality popularly referred to as the breakdown of the moral fiber.breakdown of the moral fiber.

It also concerns itself with the role of the It also concerns itself with the role of the religious community because although religious community because although ethics is not religion, but religion has a lot ethics is not religion, but religion has a lot to do with the ethical decisions that people to do with the ethical decisions that people make especially in a religious continent like make especially in a religious continent like Africa.Africa.

Objectives continued…Objectives continued…

It argues that all sectors of society It argues that all sectors of society must be involved in the processes of must be involved in the processes of transforming and make their own transforming and make their own unique contribution for the benefit of unique contribution for the benefit of the country as a whole, but its focus the country as a whole, but its focus is on the religious sector. is on the religious sector.

It argues for collaboration between It argues for collaboration between government and the religious government and the religious community.community.

Key questions answered Key questions answered by this presentationby this presentation

What is ethical leadership?What is ethical leadership?Who defines it ?Who defines it ?Who builds ethical Who builds ethical

leadership?leadership?What is the role of the What is the role of the

religious community in this religious community in this project?project?

How does it do that?How does it do that?

Defining Ethical Defining Ethical LeadershipLeadership

It is a contested terrain It is a contested terrain to define what is ethical to define what is ethical leadership.leadership.

It is also a political It is also a political project in today’s South project in today’s South Africa, treading on Africa, treading on dangerous ground.dangerous ground.

EthicalEthical……

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

EthicalEthical

BehaviorBehavior: It has to do with practices, : It has to do with practices, decisions underpinned by beliefs.decisions underpinned by beliefs.

CommunityCommunity: it is negotiated by a particular : it is negotiated by a particular community through their norms, values and community through their norms, values and standards. Ethics must be about the people.standards. Ethics must be about the people.

AspirationsAspirations: It has to do with the vision, : It has to do with the vision, needs and dreams of the community.It is for needs and dreams of the community.It is for the greater good of the whole community the greater good of the whole community other than that of the individualother than that of the individual

EthicalEthical CommunityCommunity: It means that it is the community : It means that it is the community

that must build and accept what is to be deemed that must build and accept what is to be deemed as ethical.as ethical.

The community set up the standards of behavior The community set up the standards of behavior for their leaders and themselves (constitution).for their leaders and themselves (constitution).

The community through their institutions and The community through their institutions and organizations organizations enforceenforce ethical behavior (civil ethical behavior (civil society, paralegals etc)society, paralegals etc)

It must also It must also protect protect the institutions and the institutions and mechanisms that guard against unethical mechanisms that guard against unethical behavior by their leaders ( section 9 institutions behavior by their leaders ( section 9 institutions and the judiciary).and the judiciary).

LeadershipLeadership

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

What is the ProblemWhat is the Problem Since the dawning of democracy in SA a lot Since the dawning of democracy in SA a lot

has been achieved., development, houses has been achieved., development, houses etc.etc.

Challenge: has been ethical leadershipChallenge: has been ethical leadership Africa has had leaders of liberation but not Africa has had leaders of liberation but not

leaders of reconstruction and development leaders of reconstruction and development (Ali Mazrui).(Ali Mazrui).

In the struggle against apartheid all were In the struggle against apartheid all were involved after apartheid the politicians go it involved after apartheid the politicians go it alone without the other sectors of society alone without the other sectors of society e.g civil society and religious leaders.e.g civil society and religious leaders.

Why do we have this Why do we have this problem?….problem?….

Lack of experience of Lack of experience of leadershipleadership

Rapid changes in society with Rapid changes in society with people struggling to catch up.people struggling to catch up.

Human sinfulness of greed Human sinfulness of greed Myopic vision of liberation, Myopic vision of liberation,

liberation vs justice.liberation vs justice. Individualism vs communityIndividualism vs community

Unethical Leadership in Unethical Leadership in SASA

Rampant corruptionRampant corruptionKickbacks on tenders, Kickbacks on tenders, Wars amongst the ruling Wars amongst the ruling

elites.elites.Hypermoralistic behaviorHypermoralistic behavior

The role of the Religious The role of the Religious Community.Community.

In the African context life is holistic In the African context life is holistic both religious and secular.both religious and secular.(JS. Mbiti, ATR & Philosophy, (JS. Mbiti, ATR & Philosophy, 1970)1970)

Ethics is not religion but religion Ethics is not religion but religion shapes the ethical choices and shapes the ethical choices and practices that people make.practices that people make.

People’s ethical and moral People’s ethical and moral decisions are informed by their decisions are informed by their religious, cultural, social, economic religious, cultural, social, economic and political experiences and and political experiences and convictionsconvictions

How do we build ethical How do we build ethical leadership continued…..leadership continued…..

People’s sacred texts: the People’s sacred texts: the Bible, the Quran and the Gitta Bible, the Quran and the Gitta etc.etc.

Educational institutions: from Educational institutions: from craddle to gravecraddle to grave

Educational and business Educational and business institutions.institutions.

How does the community How does the community build ethical leadershipbuild ethical leadership

It starts from the It starts from the familyfamily which inculcate which inculcate an ethical culture (no one is born ethical an ethical culture (no one is born ethical but we learn ethical behaviour) and this is but we learn ethical behaviour) and this is difficult where the family as an institution difficult where the family as an institution is collapsingis collapsing

People’s People’s cultures, norms and valuescultures, norms and values People’s People’s sacred spacessacred spaces- mosques, - mosques,

churches, temples, river banks, caves etc.churches, temples, river banks, caves etc.

How can the religious How can the religious communities contributecommunities contribute

Moving away from the peripheries of Moving away from the peripheries of society to the centre or denominational to society to the centre or denominational to the public sphere where the rubber hits the public sphere where the rubber hits the road.the road.

Protect the institutions that inculcates Protect the institutions that inculcates and guard over our freedom and and guard over our freedom and democracydemocracy

Promoting collaboration between between Promoting collaboration between between religion and government based on the religion and government based on the principle of relative autonomyprinciple of relative autonomy

Cooperation as opposed to cooptionCooperation as opposed to cooption

Types of spaces of cooperation Types of spaces of cooperation between religion and organs between religion and organs

of the state.of the state. Invited spaces- When government invite the Invited spaces- When government invite the

religious community religious community

Invented spaces- When the religious Invented spaces- When the religious community intent a space to invite dialogue community intent a space to invite dialogue with them in their own terms and with them in their own terms and environment.environment.

Invaded spaces- when government officials Invaded spaces- when government officials

just take over the space and dominate.just take over the space and dominate.

Involved spaces –negotiated space with Involved spaces –negotiated space with memorandum of understanding leading to memorandum of understanding leading to joint programmesjoint programmes

ConclusionConclusion…….…….

GRACE AND GRACE AND PEACEPEACE