Download Defining Ethical Leadership - University of the Free State

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
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.

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.

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?
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.
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.
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

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).
Leadership
It
is the ability to
influence people to work
towards achieving the
desired goals.
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.

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
Unethical Leadership in SA
Rampant
corruption
Kickbacks on tenders,
Wars amongst the ruling elites.
Hypermoralistic behavior
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
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.
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.

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
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
Conclusion…….
GRACE AND PEACE