A DISTURBING trend is emerging of leaders whose standing is being affected by unsavoury shenanigans occurring in private and then playing themselves out in public.
Cases in point are those of Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba and axed Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka.
In the latest incident bringing the morality of our leaders into question, Gigaba reportedly had an illicit sexual liaison with a married woman and the aggrieved husband, who had thought the minister was "a friend and comrade", had threatened to sue for R1.7 million, but had relented after he received an apology.
Interestingly, Gigaba, who is out of what has been portrayed as an acrimonious marriage, has had to make an admission to his current partner, laying the basis for a serious argument.
In Mbalula's case a scorned conquest reportedly demanded R40,000 from the minister after a sexual tryst that was said to have occurred while the politician was separated from his wife. The jury is out on whether this is an acceptable excuse.
In Shiceka's case that he allegedly misappropriated taxpayers' money to visit a former girlfriend in a Swiss jail is among several leadership miscalculations pointing to a serious moral compass loss.
South Africa needs leaders who are principled, honest, scrupulous, faithful, consistent, ethical, trustworthy and behave in an exemplary fashion.
Leadership by example is one of the most important roles that ought to be played by people whom others look up to.
While high moral standards are vital, attaining a moral plane takes a lot of effort, starting with avoiding highly immoral relationships or associations at all costs and really striving to be remembered as a person of a high moral standing.
Our leaders should exemplify high moral standards as senior civil servants, because moral leadership cohorts promote global respect for any nation.
Added to the examples of more or less similarly skewed moral bearings in the cases of Mbalula, Gigaba and Shiceka, is the disconcerting news of provincial and national leaders fingered by both the attorney-general and public protector for scant audit controls, tender-rigging, under- or over-spending, or just squandering valuable public funds, and or engaging in jobs-for-pals or nepotism games, while deserving and suitably qualified and competent people sit idle.
South Africa should not tolerate immorality, especially not from its leaders.
Lax morals in high places
A DISTURBING trend is emerging of leaders whose standing is being affected by unsavoury shenanigans occurring in private and then playing themselves out in public.
Cases in point are those of Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba and axed Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka.
In the latest incident bringing the morality of our leaders into question, Gigaba reportedly had an illicit sexual liaison with a married woman and the aggrieved husband, who had thought the minister was "a friend and comrade", had threatened to sue for R1.7 million, but had relented after he received an apology.
Interestingly, Gigaba, who is out of what has been portrayed as an acrimonious marriage, has had to make an admission to his current partner, laying the basis for a serious argument.
In Mbalula's case a scorned conquest reportedly demanded R40,000 from the minister after a sexual tryst that was said to have occurred while the politician was separated from his wife. The jury is out on whether this is an acceptable excuse.
In Shiceka's case that he allegedly misappropriated taxpayers' money to visit a former girlfriend in a Swiss jail is among several leadership miscalculations pointing to a serious moral compass loss.
South Africa needs leaders who are principled, honest, scrupulous, faithful, consistent, ethical, trustworthy and behave in an exemplary fashion.
Leadership by example is one of the most important roles that ought to be played by people whom others look up to.
While high moral standards are vital, attaining a moral plane takes a lot of effort, starting with avoiding highly immoral relationships or associations at all costs and really striving to be remembered as a person of a high moral standing.
Our leaders should exemplify high moral standards as senior civil servants, because moral leadership cohorts promote global respect for any nation.
Added to the examples of more or less similarly skewed moral bearings in the cases of Mbalula, Gigaba and Shiceka, is the disconcerting news of provincial and national leaders fingered by both the attorney-general and public protector for scant audit controls, tender-rigging, under- or over-spending, or just squandering valuable public funds, and or engaging in jobs-for-pals or nepotism games, while deserving and suitably qualified and competent people sit idle.
South Africa should not tolerate immorality, especially not from its leaders.
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