A skill set called leadership

I have been in the block for quite some time , and I have been trying to establish as to entails a skill set called leadershiop.I have look at it from an academic perspective , the answers that I get seemed to be very vague , they don’t explicitly explain what is leadership. I guess it what a human being can stand based on pressures of life , whether it for the nation or for individual gains. I believe everyone is a leader in their own right because they lead somewhere, whether it’s at home, work, community etc. Leadership encompasses a number of things such as discipline, ethic, tenacity, qualifications etc. What most people don’t understand is when one is in leadership position and what it entails, such ethics .Although leaders are also ordinary people there is a big difference between an ordinary person and those who are in positions of leadership and public interest and ethics are the most critical element / aspect of a skill set called leadership.Those who sacrifice for the people so that there is development and empowerment and not themselves for me they  have a set of skill called leadership , Like the South Africa former President Mandela

Protest in Lenesia South of Gauteng

There is a possibility that what we see in the Arab might happen in South Africa. Moketsi Mbeki said in one of his writing that by year 2020, uprising in South Africa will be the order of the day. The recent incidents that have happened in Gauteng regarding the burning the burning of Councilors housed is an indication of what we should expect in years to come. What irritates people more is the corruption that is taking place in government , people are on waiting list for long time time some still today have no water, and electricity and they have already given up in as far as getting houses.The crime rate is very high, people live their lives in fear and government does not seemed to be prepared to address these problems.The reluctancy of Mbeki's government during his term as a president in addressing the question of HIV/AIDS has also ruined the governments reputation.What they need to do is to move with speed in addressing these problems otherwise by 2020, the ANC government is going to be voted out or a revolution just like in the Arab world is going to happen her in SA

Social Responsibility Programme

I was thinking last night in class as my lecturer was lecturing us in the topic of a Social Responsibility Programme whether all business people in our country  understand the concept of CSR.I also asked myself a question as to whether it will be wise for government to make it law that all companies listed in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange to put aside in their annual budget a certain amount or a certain percentage for the development of our communities.In some other countries it is compulsory that companies should have a Social Responsibility Programme.These countries are so successful such that , the literacy rate , poverty and other forms of social disadvantages are not that high as compared to our country.If it can be made compulsory that every company pays such an amount , government will have to take the lead in ensuring that , they commit themselves to it

Steve Bantu Biko one of the forgoton heros of our struggle

Steve Bantu Biko died on September 12, 1977 after he was tortured by the then Special branch of the apartheid  security forces.Biko was one of the most intelligent leaders that South Africa has ever produce.He studied at the University of Durban Westeville.Biko was the founder of the then Black conscious Movement which a student organization which represent student at all Tertiary Institutions in South Africa. Biko became a threat to the apartheid regime to such an extent that he was arrested several time and one point he was given a house arrest which meant that he couldn't go anywhere without the approval of the police.The biggest question that we need to ask ourselves as South African is whether we still living to what Biko died for or its just moral decay in our society.The corruption , teenage pregnancy, women and children abuse are not what Bantu fought and died for.The Civil Society must stand up against these social ills and not leave everything with government , community members must take it  upon themselves to ensure that people of South Africa leave in peace and harmony.

Nepotism

Nepotism is a situation where jobs or any other benefits in the Private and the Public Sector only benefits the families of those who are already employed in those sectors.  This means that even if a person is not in possession of the requirements of a particular position, such an individual will get the job.  These include qualifications, experience, etc.  What is so saddening is the impact that nepotism has in our economy, industrial development as well as those families that do not have people working in these sectors.  How do we then ensure that nepotism is eradicated at all costs in these sectors?  Do we need a law to deal with it, so that those who are found practising it will have to be dealt with or should we make these conglumarates belong to certain families, meaning we are brewing a certain elite of families to benefit from these companies.  What will be the impact of this in our country?  What will be the attitude of the public towards these sectors?  This will have a negative impact in these sectors as it is already the case when it comes to our National Parliament where one wonders as to who are the people/families entitled to work in Parliament of South Africa.

Change

Change is adapting to an environment which sometimes favours or do not favour your expectations.  Tt is one of the most difficult things that people are willing to accept sometimes, depending on circumstances. Change poses challenges.  Sometimes such challenges are for good, sometimes they disadvantage us.  We are living in a changing world.  Things or conditions do change.  Some people break or prosper as a result of change. What makes people to resist change is the fear of the unknown.  The changes we had in South Africa in 1994 have made people sceptical as to what the future holds.  Some were of the opinion that we were not going to succede as a Nation in building a prosperous South Africa, but we proved them wrong.  If you believe in changing the world with its social ills, make a change to happen today

The scarce skill called leadership

When you ask people even academicians as to what is the definition of Leadership or Leader, you will notice that they do not give a precise definition of a good leader or leadership.You will find some people saying that in the South African context Nelson Mandela was a good leader or he had good leadership skills.For me a good leader or leadership skills entails taking decisions and such decisions sometime are not going to be favoured by certain people or one becomes unpopular for their actions.For example for me one of the people that I admired in taking decision was PW Botha, "the crocodile" although some of the decision he used to take were wrong he stood by what he believed. during the The Truth and Reconciliation(TRC) in South Africa after 1994 democratic elections , he was called to testify there about the atrocities that happened during his time as President of the Republic of South Africa and he said the TRC was a circuit and he did not have time for circuits.When interviewed by the media he said that he never regretted what he did and if he can get time even at the time of the new dispensation he would do it again. For me that is good leadership