Understanding the moral and ethical leadership challenges in South African public service : the case of the Eastern Cape, Department of Education

Abstract

Creating ethical leadership in South Africa is everyone's responsibility for a healthy democracy. However, the leaders who occupy positions in the public and private sectors and many other institutions can influence the system, as a result of their greater authority and power, as they have access to resources. Occupying these prominent positions implies that leaders are to be role models for others in society. In this capacity, they ought to teach others what is suitable and desirable through their actions. Nevertheless, with the contending views of the abysmal performance of government departments and agencies in the Eastern Cape, the various maladies of its government have resulted in a series of industrial actions and protests. Based on the notion that ethical leadership is misplaced to cronyism and nepotism, maladministration, mismanagement, corruption and the lack of accountability, this study assesses the state and philosophy of moral and ethical leadership in the Eastern Cape Department of Education. The trait and situational theories underpinned the study, emphasising that either an open or closed system can be effective if ethically grounded. The researchers used original interviews (empirical), questionnaires and secondary data to inform the study. The study concludes that moral and ethical leadership is the panacea to good and open government, transparency, effective and prudent government practice. The moral and ethical challenges in the department are both at an organisational and individual level. Evidence from the data collected shows a deliberate disregard of policies, rules and regulations which are supposed to govern the conduct of officials within the department.