Leadership beyond Nelson Mandela
In today's Sunday Times, former President Thabo Mbeki called on South
African's to reflect on Madiba's values. "Mandela’s memory would be best
honoured if South Africans assessed whether the country was living up to the
icon’s vision of a non-racial society", he said.
This is a noble thought and worth reflecting on. I think it is more useful
though to think about what we could do personally. Real change always start at
home.
We can do this by considering what Madiba would do in the situations we find
ourselves in daily.
Finding our own inner Madiba would go a long way to providing us with a
tangible and very symbolic moral compass. As with Mandela, leadership like
this can go a long way.
This would also be more in line with how Mandela saw himself, as described in
his autobiography, "I was not a messiah, but an ordinary man who had become a
leader because of extraordinary circumstances."
The extraordinary circumstances of today are the perception of widespread
corruption in government leading all the way to the door of the president.
With Madiba now belonging, as Barack Obama described, to the ages, is there
someone living who can hold the moral authority which he has vacated?
There are plenty of people shouting from the sidelines about corruption. Most
are however, safely ensconced in the ranks of the opposition parties or deep
within the political setup such as COSATU. Their cries are expected and seldom
with any consequence for themselves or others.
Advocate Thuli Madonsela, the public protector, has on the other hand many
potential consequences in her quest for the truth. She has in recent weeks
shown many characteristics of a true leader. She has been resolute, brave and
principled. Unwavering despite the numerous attempts that have been made to
discredit her and her organisation's work.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu in his obituary to Madiba had mostly glowing praise
for his friend and colleague. "People cared about Nelson Mandela, loved him,
because of his courage, convictions and care of others", he said.
The only fault he could identify was Madiba's tolerance of mediocrity which he
said, "arguably laid the seeds for greater levels of mediocrity and
corruptibility that were to come."
Perhaps in Madonsela we are seeing the emergence of a new leader of
significance in South Africa. Although a completely different person, she
appears to be guided by her own inner Mandela.
As Mandela, she has a stubborn disregard for anything that attempts to
distract her from her role of being the public protector and seeking the truth
that benefits the people of South Africa.
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