Page 39 - IRMSA Risk Report 2021
P. 39

GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PURPLE GROUP
                                      CHARLES

                                         SAVAGE











        EXPERT OPINION


        Scarcity of unified, ethical and visionary leadership refers   and unethical leadership. If one compares the period in
        to  a  deterioration  of  morals  and  principles  amongst   which  President  Cyril  Ramaphosa  has  been  leading  the
        the  leaders  in  a  country.  Government  is  in  power  in   country  to  the  Zuma  era,  things  appear  to  be  on  the
        order  to  serve  the  people,  provide  the  parameters  for   mend. Media should be giving more airspace to positive,
        everyday  behaviour  for  citizens,  protect  them  from   uplifting  stories  –  and  the  whistle-blowers  should
        outside interference, and provide for their well-being or   be  celebrated  rather  than  being  shunned.  Business
        a conducive environment to ensure well-being.         should  demand  ethical  leadership  from  government.
        There  is  a  loss  in  confidence  of  unified  and  ethical   Government should demand the same from  business
        leadership  in  the  ruling  party.  As  a  result,  South  Africa   and accountability should be the norm. Interventions to
        is  facing  the  risk  that  the  mobile,  up-and-coming  youth   ensure  improvements  exist.  However,  the  knowledge  of
        leveraging  digital  transformation  –  and  the  wealthy   the  problem  areas  and  interventions  required  have  not
        minority  –  will  emigrate  to  other  countries,  which  they   created  a  desire  to  change.  There  is  a  lack  of  tangible
        view as better governed than South Africa. This exit of a   action and recourse.
        productive, ethical and competent workforce will diminish
        the  future  high  earners  and  pool  of  taxpayers.  This  will   It  should  be  noted  that  interventions  have  started  to
        result in civil unrest due to a lack of funds and provision   pave  the  way  towards  better  outcomes.  Covid-19  can
        of services to the marginalised and unemployed majority   accelerate  ethical  leadership  and  swift  punishment  of
        without the option of leaving.                        those  who  took  advantage  of  pandemic  vulnerability.
                                                              The focus is much more on doing “good” for the benefit
        The  absence  of  ethical  and  visionary  leadership  will   of  society  at  large,  rather  than  just  maximising  profits.
        almost  certainly  exacerbate  other  risks  at  country  level,   Covid-19  set  the  framework  for  a  brighter  future  with
        such  as  civil  unrest  as  the  pace  of  service  delivery  gets   ethical  leadership,  moral  standards  and  putting  people
        impacted through unethical practices, as well as the triple   and  purpose  ahead  of  profits.  There  must  be  a  change
        challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality that   in  the  reward  system,  rewarding  ethical  behaviour  and
        will persist.                                         those who are doing “good” – this to shun and crowd out
                                                              the unethical minority.
        The  Covid-19  pandemic  was  a  double-edged  sword  for
        South Africa. We already had our own pre-Covid economic   The  best  leaders  have  that  priceless  combination  of
        challenges off the back of structural debt issues, coupled   humility  and  natural  strength  of  character.  Many  South
        with  unethical  leadership  (state  capture).  Covid-19   Africans  just  need  an  opportunity  –  and  there  are  so
        reforms represented green shoots of life at the start of   many untold success stories that the media can leverage
        the lockdown in South Africa, which quickly eroded as the   to  change  the  public  opinion  on  unethical  leadership.
        months went by. This resurgence of confidence in South   “I’m  hoping  that  we  have  given  people  a  bit  of  hope  to
        Africa at the start of the pandemic has been decimated.   pull  together  as  a  country  to  make  it  better,”  said  Siya
        Covid has now been a catalyst for emigration, with a wave   Kolisi,  South  Africa’s  2019  World  Cup  winning  captain.
        of leavers and many reluctant to stay in the country going
        forward.  On  the  other  hand,  Covid-19  has  also  been  a   Another example is EOH CEO Stephen Van Coller setting
        catalyst for potential prosecution of unethical leadership   the new narrative for EOH to put purpose before profit,
        and  criminals.  We  have  seen  several  arrests  in  the  last   which resulted in the share price recovering. The South
        few months of 2020. This is positive. If built on, with more   African organisations of the future that will succeed and
        arrests  and  other  tangible  recourse,  those  that  left  the   be  profitable  will  be  those  that  are  open,  honest  and
        country may consider returning. Those still in the country   transparent  about  the  wrongs  of  the  past  –  and  clear
        may reconsider their intentions to emigrate.          about their purpose: to add value to society at large.
        The  media  plays  a  major  role  in  formulating  public
        opinion and shedding light on the corruption of a divided









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