Madonsela says poor leadership is to blame for SA’s challenges

Former public protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela says South Africa has many great leaders, but it is facing a lot of challenges that are caused by a lack of appropriate leadership.

Speaking on Tuesday evening after receiving an honorary doctorate in law from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Madonsela told graduates that good leadership was needed to shape the country.

“Our graduation takes place in the mist of challenging times … To be a leader you have to inspire hope, and you have to make people believe that there is a better way than the status quo. It is‚ therefore‚ not that we lack leaders.

“We face many challenges today because of a lack of appropriate leadership and a lot of fingers have been pointed at the executive branch of government [whilst] some fingers have been pointed at corporations for failure to comply with the laws‚” she said

The former public protector, who was lauded by the University for her fight against corruption and upholding SA’s constitutional values, said leaders who meant what they said in public demonstrated “walking the talk”.

Madonsela was one of six recipients of honorary doctorate degrees in Wits’ first graduation cluster for 2017. Other recipients of honorary doctorate degrees include business leaders Patrice Motsepe and Adrian Gore, Justice Carole Lewis and Professor Eddie Webster.

She was appointed to the office of the public protector by President Jacob Zuma in 2009, where she served until 2016.

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