I warned SA about leadership crisis: Reuel Khoza
Former chairman of Nedbank Reuel Khoza says he feels vindicated by the growing number of people raising questions about the quality of leadership running the country. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection in Midrand‚ Khoza said there were more voices among the ANC and society calling for a change in leadership which vindicated views that brought him a lot of criticism.“I feel vindicated. What is happening now at OccupyLuthuliHouse‚ FeesMustFall and the stalwarts coming to the fore and saying things are not what they should be. These are people who were in the past dispensation of the ANC‚ now are disassociating themselves from what the current leadership is doing.“I feel I was vindicated in observing that the moral caution of our nation is degenerating. It has now degenerated to a point where perhaps even the majority of people can no longer take it‚” Khoza told TMG Digital.In 2012‚ Khoza wrote in Nedbank's annual report that South Africa's “strange breed” of leadership needed to adhere to the institutions that underpinned democracy. The political climate was not a picture of an accountable democracy.“Our political leadership's moral quotient is degenerating and we are fast losing the checks and balances that are necessary to prevent a recurrence of the past‚” he wrote.These comments drew strong criticism from the ANC‚ with the ruling party saying he should focus on business and not make such statements.Khoza thanked the media for continuing to reflect that things were not going right in the country despite the industry receiving criticism from the ruling party.“The media is also doing its part. Earlier on‚ people were dismissing the media. Now people are saying‚ perhaps the media was right in putting the mirror in front of the ANC. To say you are not as wholesome as you fancy. You have pimples...‚” he said.Khoza was part of a panel discussion examining the issue of ethics in a capitalist society.Khoza told the guests that leaders who have no moral authority do not have the right to hold positions.“Moral authority gives...a sense of what is right and wrong and imbues you with conscience which pricks when you do wrong and enables to do what is right and accelerates you in the right kind of direction...Unless you have that sense of direction‚ I would hate to be led by you. Because more often than not‚ you will find yourself self-serving as opposed to serving people‚” he said.The conference continues on Friday. ..
There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.
From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.
For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.
Already subscribed? Sign in below.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.