Mogoeng slates ‘greedy’ political leaders
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng took a swipe at political leaders, challenging them to stop throwing ethics out of the window.
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Johannesburg - Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng took a swipe at political leaders, challenging them to stop being manipulative figures who arrogantly threw ethics out the window knowing their corrupt activities would be covered up.
“Ethical leadership is not an option but a national imperative because when you’re a leader, you have the authority to influence those you lead.
“It is what you do that determines what those who follow you are likely to do.
“When the leader does not shy away from taking what doesn’t belong to him, that leader lacks ethics.
“When a leader is unethical in his or her approach, check what those who are answerable to him do. They have the boldness to do it because they know, should he or she raise a finger, they will produce something,” said Mogoeng.
His speech, delivered at the Social Investment Conference on Monday, comes just weeks after he delivered a unanimous Constitutional Court judgment against President Jacob Zuma and cabinet members who had defended him following the release of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s damning Nkandla report.
In that judgment, Zuma was found to have breached his oath of office and failed to “uphold, defend and respect” the constitution.
Members of the National Assembly were also found to have failed in their duty to hold the executive accountable and ignored Madonsela’s remedial action.
In her report, Madonsela recommended Zuma pay back a reasonable portion of the R246 million spent on upgrades to Nkandla including those not related to security - such as the swimming pool, cattle kraal, the chicken run and the “fire pool”.
Following the Concourt ruling, opposition parties called for Zuma to be impeached but that motion was voted down by 211 to 100 votes in the National Assembly.
Civil society leaders also called for Zuma to step down, with many suggesting MPs would not vote Zuma out as their jobs were on the line.
On Monday, without mentioning any names, Mogoeng seemed to suggest that South Africa lacked ethical leadership, depriving the country of an opportunity to become “an economic superpower in the world”.
“If there ever was a time to embrace ethical leadership, to stop spinning... stop relying on our supporters or sympathisers, to do wrong knowing our wrongdoing will be covered up, that time, is now,” said Mogoeng, adding that ethical “leadership that espouses the truth and can be trusted” was needed.
“Not manipulators, not intimidators but people who are consistent. What they say, whatever promise they make to you is a promise that you can rest assured will be honoured.”
Touching on corruption, he warned leaders to guard against those who funded them as they had a tendency to “influence how you govern your people”, adding: “Ethical leadership leaves no room for corruption.”
Quoting from minister Myles Munroe, Mogoeng said: “Our nations, societies and communities are suffering from an astounding leadership vacuum.
“Greed, timidity and lack of vision are rampant among the current crop of pseudo-leaders. Where are the genuine leaders? Where are individuals who are willing to take responsibility for the present situation and conditions in the world?
“The world is in desperate need of true leaders.”
The Star