By Lungisani Mkhulise
Dr Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town, has called on global leaders to put peace and ethical leadership at the forefront, during his keynote address at the KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Leadership event held at Ballito.
The gathering involved traditional leaders, mayors and senior political officials.
In his message, Archbishop Makgoba emphasised the importance of integrity and accountability in leadership when faced with uncertainty and division in particular. “Ethical leaders are people who live by principles and values that will take them through a world which is always changing and this is what is expected of leaders to be, true to their morals and spiritual foundations.”
Attendees were encouraged to take their leadership positions very seriously.
Makgoba asked people to pray for the Middle East. “Long-term peace is possible when there is dialogue and understanding,” he said.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Thlasizwe Buthelezi, praised the archbishop’s message. “His message on leadership and his call for peace aligns with the values we promote in our leaders.”
While the event focused on building ethical leadership, there was a discussion on practical challenges that young leaders face within communities which some say is marked by inequality, service delivery and political tensions. The day was a platform for reflection on the kind of leadership needed in both the public and traditional sectors.
