Concerned at the number of councillors being killed, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Zweli Mkhize says local government could benefit from a sensitisation programme on ethical leadership.
“The killing of councillors and the violent nature of community protests could be indicative of a declining morality and ethical leadership. We need external perspective as CoGTA on how we can instil ethical leadership in local government,” said Minister Mkhize.
Mkhize made the remarks during a meeting on Tuesday with the leader of Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) Smangaliso Mkhatshwa to discuss possible collaboration to instil ethical leadership in local government.
The MRM seeks to share common societal values such as respect and concern for all people; respect for human dignity and equality; upholding honesty, integrity and loyalty; and promotion of responsible freedom, the rule of law and democracy.
Launched in 2002, the MRM aims to drive ethical transformation and exert positive influence on the behaviour of society in support of the Reconstruction and Development Programme agenda.
CoGTA and MRM agreed to explore ways that ethical leadership could be ingrained in local government leaders and integrated into the councillor induction programme as a social aspect of the Back to Basics programme.
The programme aims to promote good governance, financial proficiency, efficient service delivery and anti-corruption attitudes in local government.
“CoGTA will engage the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) - which is already in a formalised partnership with MRM to determine how CoGTA’s objectives could be integrated in the existing relationship,” said the Minister. – SAnews.gov.za
