In Search of Good Governance for South Africa

By Zandile Vilakazi-Mwenda, Alaythea Hamlyn and Arno Van Niekerk

The challenges we face in South Africa require a strong moral compass. A clear and strong moral compass comprises absolute values that guide and govern our behaviour as a nation: the rights and responsibilities that both citizens and leaders at all levels of government adhere to. To achieve this we need a fundamental Bill of Values drawn from the primary values, principles, ethics and moral standards that have stood the test of time, and have characterised historically stable governments that gave rise to good, and lasting legacies amongst individual citizens, families, communities, societies, and nations. This Bill of Values, together with a non-partisan, people-driven, societal governance system, will transform the nation.
This booklet offers a compact yet comprehensive process to facilitate firstly, an understanding of what values are and how to interpret them, secondly a proposed set of values and the desirable qualities for candidates for governmental leadership, and thirdly, a selection process that may be followed in order to assist voters / selectors and ministers in identifying the best possible candidates for good governance in a local municipality, in a province, or in the nation as a whole.
Good government is only as good as the individuals it is composed of. The process described will go a long way towards identifying such individuals. Since the Constitutional Court ruling in June of 2020 that Independent candidates may be elected to national office, it has become critical for the nation to know how to approach forthcoming elections in such a way that errors of judgement are avoided, and the best possible candidates for the task are elected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Truth House Publishing
• Release date: Mar 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9780620926683

Zandile Vilakazi-Mwenda

Zandile Vilakazi-Mwenda is an ardent nation builder with the passion for research, writing, people development and nation building. She is a blogger on matters of active citizenship,writing articles, in various areas of nation building. She has a BA Law Degree, Honors in Public & Development Management, BA in Ministry, Certificate in Training and Skills Development. Is currently a Pastor in Church Ministry, and partly doing Consultancy work. Before ministry, she operated her own Management Consulting Company working with a variety of local and international NGOs and donors (including the EU, GTZ, USAID and others) in developing, implementing and evaluating various projects. Her consultancy work focuses on organisational development, people development, skills development and small enterprise development. Prior to this, she worked for 10 years in Programme Management in a South African government Agency, and a non-profit organisation funded by the International Youth Fund. She lives in Pretoria, South Africa.

Book preview

IN SEARCH OF

GOOD GOVERNANCE

for

SOUTH AFRICA

An Ubuntu Values-Based Guide for Leaders and Individuals

Zandile Vilakazi-Mwenda

Alaythea Hamlyn

Arno van Niekerk

Published by

Truth House Publishing

Johannesburg, South Africa

In Search of Good Governance

Zandile Vilakazi-Mwenda, Alaythea Hamlyn, Arno van Niekerk

Smashwords Edition

ISBN 9780620926683

© Copyright 2021.

No part of this document may be printed, copied, or reproduced in any form whatsoever unless used for study or teaching purposes, and with the proviso that no modifications, omissions, or additions are made, and that it is not reproduced for gain or profit of any kind.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The process of developing the Bill of Values on which this booklet was based was a team effort with participants from many cultures and walks of life, who all shared a passion to see South Africa become a great nation. This final compilation is a result of much research, prayer, discussion and inputs done over a period of three years.

This being a matter of national values, priority was given to ensuring that existing authoritative publications were consulted and used as the foundation for developing a framework of Values that are not only comprehensive, but also credible for South Africa’s nation building. These are the Batho Pele Principles and the Moral Regeneration Charter, both of which are expounded upon in this publication.

Credit is due to the following participants who were part of the working group of the New Nation Movement, who worked tirelessly to bring to completion a Bill of Values:

Contributors

Mkhangeli Matomela

Pearl Kupe

Bulelani Mkhohliswa

Ben Alberts

Alaythea Hamlyn

Zandile Vilakazi-Mwenda

Arno Van Niekerk

Michael Louis

Barnabas Mucha

Philip Anthony

Matthew Rantso

Eddie de Beer

Bernie van Wyk

Authors

Zandile Vilakazi-Mwenda

Alaythea Hamlyn

Arno Van Niekerk

Editor

Alaythea Hamlyn

Publisher:

Truth House Publishing

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1. Bill of Values

Chapter 2. Ubuntu Servant Leadership Code of Ethics

Chapter 3. A Selection Procedure for Leaders

Chapter 4. Self-Assessment for Governance

Chapter 5. A Values-Based Social Compact

Authors’ Note

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INTRODUCTION

Virtually all informed commentators agree that moral regeneration is urgently required for our nation. … Mandela bequeathed to us an inestimable legacy of moral integrity and selfless service which unfortunately has been squandered… Today in both government and private sectors there is manifest corruption, fraud and dishonesty…