Programme director
Vice Chancellor Designate
Chairperson and Members of the Speakers’ Forum
Minister of Public Service and Administration
Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures
Distinguished guests
When he got out of prison, after 27 years, Nelson Mandela advocated among other things the importance of education. To him education was important for one’s future but equally to those who were already in leadership positions.
Education is a timeless investment in human capital. It helps both the individual and society to develop knowledge. The ability to create and utilise knowledge gives one an advantage socially and economically.
Research shows that countries where average education is higher offer better living conditions, both material and non-material, than countries where the population is less educated.
Education provides a leader with the insight to become a visionary. A visionary sees and engages with things in the future and attempts to bring them into reality.
Robin Sharma, who writes on leadership issues, identifies eight insights to visionary leadership that he terms ‘rituals of the best leaders’, as follows:
1. A compelling future focus (which speaks to vision)
2. Good human relations
3. Promotion of team unity
4. Ability to adapt and manage change
5. Personal effectiveness
6. Self-leadership (one cannot be a leader if one cannot lead himself or herself). Hence they say one should ‘lead by example’.
7. Creativity and innovation (one must be able to introduce new things or new ways of doing things better), and,
8. Contribution and significance (which comes from self-sacrifice)
The prospect of promoting team unity is perhaps one of the most rewarding benefits of being a good leader. Communities and organisations are made by people. However, it takes good leaders to unite people in communities and organisations and turn them into a formidable and inspired force.
As I congratulate you on attaining the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Governance and Public Leadership, I also want to remind you that governance is one of the challenges we are facing as a democracy. If we could achieve good governance across the national, provincial and local spheres of government, we would advance our service to the people.
Good governance is about the fulfilment of accountability, responsiveness and transparency in the process of governing. It is the promise of our constitutional democracy.
Similarly we need to strengthen public leadership. This includes the ability to connect and understand the people that one leads. People are by nature dynamic social beings. It is therefore difficult to fully understand them, especially how they feel, what they think and their fears. But a leader needs to find a way to connect with people.
Daniel Goleman says: “The artful leader is attuned to the subtle undercurrents of emotion that pervade a group, and can read the impact of her own actions on those currents”. So as we lead, we should be able to see ourselves in the people we lead.
I admire your great efforts and personal sacrifices. To be here tonight means that you have had to juggle many things: FAMILY, WORK, YOUR PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES, and STUDIES sometimes at great risk to your health, present career opportunities and social well-being.
You came forth to distinguish yourselves as good leaders. Madiba would be proud of you.
I would like to leave you with the following words from the 18th century philosophical writer James Allen:
“Of all of the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful ... than this – that you are the master of your thought, the molder of your character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment and destiny”.
I wish you the best in your efforts to shape your destiny and the destiny of the people you lead or represent.
Thank you
