Madonsela calls for ‘appropriate leaders’
Former Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, said a lot of the challenges that we face today is not so much because of the lack of leadership in the lack of appropriate leaders.
Addressing graduands at the Graduation Ceremony for the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand on Tuesday, Madonsela – who received an honorary doctorate in law from the University – said that in order for our democracy to remain functional and sustainable, the rule of law must be the default position.
“I also believe that for the rule of law and democracy to survive, we need appropriate leaders,” she said.
“Appropriate leaders understand that the burden of leadership involves awareness that the burden of leadership includes an understanding that both what you do and say matter, and what you do not do or say matter regarding influencing others in believing and achieving something.”
Appropriate leaders know that it is not just their commands or directives that determine where others go, but also their actions. “Above all, appropriate leaders influence and inspire people to do what will take them to the future that they aspire to. They don’t pronounce one future but do something else.”
This was Madonsela’s fifth honorary doctorate, but, she said, one that holds a special place, as Wits was one of her forming grounds as a lawyer.
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