Notes of ELP Workshop on Ethical Political Leadership,
held in Khayelitsha on 17,18th September 2008
PART 1
A.
Introduction
This report deal with the proceedings of a series of workshops held by the Ethical Leadership Project.
The workshops were held with community representatives in Khayelitsha and with representatives
of schools in Atlantis. This is a consolidated report split into two parts; Part 1 deals with the
Khayelitsha workshops and Part 2 deals with the Atlantis workshops.
B.
The Khayelitsha Workshops
The Khayelitsha workshops were held on 17 and 18th September 2008 and were attended by 120
participants on day 1 and 23 participants on day 2.
The workshops sought to explore the following issues:
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To focus on and explore the local “ethical practices” in politics and the “ethical role” of
leaders in local government
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The “ideal ethical practices” in and through political leadership,
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2. The socio-economic reality of ethical leadership practices, as experienced and perceived
in and through the Khayelitsha communities.
The workshop participants were drawn from Wards 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99 (Workshop 1), and
Wards 87, 89, 90, 91, 92, and 93, respectively (Workshop2).
B.1
Wednesday 17 September 2008
Introduction
The workshop methodology sought to use the experience and knowledge of participants to draw out
and explore the various issues relating to ethical political leadership. The workshop methodology
was split into two parts: Part 1 consisted of the dissemination of a questionnaire that sought to track
the process of learning in the workshop and was conducted by Dr Dames of ELP; Part 2 consisted of
the actual workshop and was facilitated by David Abrahams of Distinctive Choice Development
Consultants.
In the initial workshop activity participants were asked to identify their top five leaders- at local,
national and provincial levels. This activity sought to provide an introduction to a discussion on the
meaning and significance of leadership.
Participants came up with the following as their choices:
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Nelson Mandela
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Jacob Zuma
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Cyril Ramaphosa
Tokyo Sexwale
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Phumzile Ncgucka
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Helen Zille
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Thabo Mbeki
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Trevor Manuel
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Patricia De Lille
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Gwede Mantashe
Baleka Mbethe
Zwelinzima Vavi
Kgalema Motlanthe
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Julius Malema
Tony Yengeni
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
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Naledi Pandor
Patrick Motsepe
Lynne Brown
N Balindlela
M Skwatsha
R Dyanti
Participants were asked why, despite them clearly being asked to choose their top 5 leaders (the
facilitator did not say ‘political leaders’, all of the leaders chosen were political.
The responses were:
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Because our communities face strong political challenges
Because our freedom came politically-politics informs everything in SA
Because politics dominate our lives and politicians have a great influence on our lives
Politicians formulate policies that affect our lives on all levels
Because politicians assist us with our problems
Because leaders in our community is not recognized – that’s why we chose politicians – none
of us in the group see ourselves as leaders
Because political leaders are the most powerful leaders in the country
Politicians are people with power to transform the country
Because the workshop focuses on political – there are others ion our community are leaders
Political leaders are more commonly known
The facilitator then asked participants to identify what they sought in a political leader.
Their responses were:
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Leaders that talk for the people
Honesty
Trustworthy
Listen to people
Stands for the people
Delivers – doesn’t just make promises
We chose those that dedicate themselves to the struggle
Actively involved in the community
Disciplined
Intelligence
Perseverance
Commitment
Confidence
Trustworthy
Sacrifice
Faces challenges
Implements programmes
Accessibility
Can solve problems
Must be accountable to the community and the people that elected them
Must be totally against corruption and work for economic justice
Patience to deal with peoples issues
Must be humble
Must communicate openly with the people
Accountability for their actions
Respect
o Elders
o Community
o People
Empathetic must show concern put themselves in shoes of those with the problem
Tactical leadership
Humility
Ability to mobilize resources
Accessibility to constituency
Must earn respect as leader must earn right to be seen/recognized as leader
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Compassionate
Not self-centered
Must be accessible and accountable
Must be committed to real delivery
Balance between talking and delivery
No nepotism
Treats everybody equally and with respect
Political leaders must serve everybody
Having established from participants why political leadership at all levels of society played such a
critical role in the lives of people, the workshop moved on to exploring the meaning of ethical
political leadership.
In response to the question concerning the major challenges for ethical political leadership in
South Africa, participants responded as follows:
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All leaders must have an ethical value system that informs everything they do and say.
Other challenges facing ethical political leadership are:
o Honesty
o No corruption
o Accountability
o Setting example to others of the correct way to live your life
o Setting an example to others by having impeccable personal conduct
Political leaders must stop thinking about their own interests and that of their political
parties
Ethical political leadership requires high moral standards and high levels of discipline
Ethical political leadership must be based on respect
Bring back ubuntu at all levels of society – political leadership must lead
Political leaders must not personalize politics- this impacts on their followers who are forced
to take sides- this impacts on communities
In response to the question regarding the challenges around ethical political leadership in your
community, participants came up with the following:
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There is a huge problem of a lack of ethical political leadership and its impacts on the lives of
people at a local level
Those with means do not give back to community – political leadership with means are not
setting an example
As leaders we are accountable to those we lead. When we fight those we are supposed to
serve are the ones that get hurt the most
Most politicians are driven by self-interest and personal agendas
They leave those that voted and supported then behind once they are in power
We have lost the values we fought to in the struggle against apartheid
We have a serious problem with greedy politicians
Political camps are destroying political participation at a local level– it forces people at local
level to take sides in political conflict they know little about
Ethical political leaders mean the culture of self-enrichment must stop
Leaders must regain respect and humanity for themselves
When I decide to vote for a leader – this leader must comply with the principles of ethical
political leadership
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The workshop ended with the administration of the questionnaire by ELP
B.2
Wednesday 18 September 2008
In the initial workshop activity participants were asked to identify their top five leaders- at local,
national and provincial levels. This activity sought to provide an introduction to a discussion on the
meaning and significance of leadership.
Participants came up with the following as their choices:
Jacob Zuma
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Naledi Pandor
Ncgonde Balfour
Zola Skweyiya
Phumzile Ncgucka
Tony Leon
M Skwatsha
Z Vavi
Winnie Mandela
Helen Zille
Nelson Mandela
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Thabo Mbeki
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FW De Klerk
Sam Shilowa
Gwede Mantashe
Participants were asked why, despite them clearly being asked to choose their top 5 leaders (the
facilitator did not say ‘political leaders’, all of the leaders chosen were political.
The responses were:
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They sacrificed their lives for us
We live for politics
Transformation is done by politics
All other things come after politics!
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They are there to address community issues- they are the face of the community
They influence every facet of life in South Africa
Politicians are elected by the people and are accountable to the people – unlike leaders from
other sectors e.g. business (Shoprite; pastors)
Leaders left their families to fight for freedom
Some sacrificed their lives for freedom
Democracy was brought by politicians and politics
Because politicians try to solve our problems
In response to the question of the responsibilities that go with being a political leader, participants
responded as follows:
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To represent
To unite
To unite
To lead
To make policies
To oversee policy implementation
To listen to the voices of the people
To make decisions on behalf of the people
To satisfy the needs of the people
To respect the people and not undermine or underestimate the people
To be accountable by reporting to the people
o consultation
o implementation
Accountability means that politicians should be visible at all times – not only on election
time
Financial
o Accountability is critical e.g. budget
Politicians must not indulge in nepotism and not favour certain people above others
In response to the question of what is sought for in our political leaders regarding ethical political
leadership participants came up with the following:
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They must know our history, must be trustworthy and respect confidentiality
They must listen to our needs and should not be dictators
They must be approachable and accessible
They must be empathetic to people’s problems and needs
They must be able to relate to all kinds of people
They must not favour only certain people
They must be future-looking – they must ensure the prosperity of future generations
Ethical political leaderships have the following qualities;
o Listening skills
o They must serve all the people – not only members of their party or those close to
them or their party
o They must not discriminate
o They must focus on delivery for all communities, rich and poor
o Respectful to all
o Disciplined
o They must accept criticism
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Must never be corrupt
Be amongst the people
As public representatives they must have strong values and lead by example with an
emphasis on high moral and ethical standards
The workshop ended with the administration of the learning questionnaire by ELP.
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