Good leadership recognises freedom of expression - Sexwale

"Unconstitutional"

"Fighting the media will be unconstitutional and will be against Nelson Mandela's principles of leadership," Sexwale told delegates today, Wednesday, 11 August 2010.

"There is a perception that Government and media are engaged in some kind of war, but the truth is where I stand and where I come from, there has never been a discussion to bring down the media."

The 2010 Discovery Invest Leadership's theme is 'Knowledge is the New Currency'. It is a platform that brings together some of today's most influential thought leaders to debate the leadership challenges facing the world economy, business, government and society.

This year's summit takes place against the backdrop of what many see as one of the 'darkest' periods of SA's democratic history - the potential introduction of a media appeals tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill, two oppressive projects analysts fear will kill investigative journalism and critical reporting.

A done deal?

Some of the ANC influential members' comments that the media tribunal is a done deal, and should not be debated, has made the media fraternity believe that the ruling party is drifting towards the 'tyrannical' leadership of certain African countries such as Zimbabwe, Angola, DRC, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia and Swaziland - to name only a few.

However, Sexwale believes good leadership must be consultative and consensus-seeking, in order to make hard but informed decisions.

He said good leadership should engage in free discussion and dialogue about issues, and embrace the culture of open society, adding that a robust debate will eventually culminate to the reconciliation of differences.

"A good leader, according to Mandela's principles, should stay the course, not run away when the situation gets worse and when people scatter," Sexwale, the minister of human settlements, said.

Furthermore, he lashed out at leaders who run ahead of the people they lead, who drift away and stay out of touch. "Leadership is also not about languishing behind the people and pushing them ahead and seeing nothing, with the hope that they will somehow and somewhere find their own way. That is opportunism."

Leads from the front

When people are confronted with such a situation, he said, they will eventually look for the nearest person as an alternative to lead them, and even that person appears to be a demagogue. A good leader, he argues, leads from the front, communicating and keeping a critical distance with the main body in order to see opportunities before the main body sees them.

"In a word, the history of leadership is associated with discovery - a journey from ignorance to knowledge. In sum, a good leader should believe in basic values, ethics, integrity and responsibility," Sexwale, who is also the founder and executive chairman of Mvelaphanda Holdings, pointed out.

Discovery Invest's Adrian Gore slammed media reports that give a negative perception about SA and Africa, calling such reports a 'conspiracy'. Furthermore, he said some people value the present and discount the future, while other people's choices are simply biased, something he equates to the essence of irrationality.

Think big

Gore also called on SA people to be tolerant, disciplined and bold and to think big. "We live in a country with many threats but the choice is ours as a leadership whether we want to thrive or fail," he said.

Bizcommunity is a media partner of the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit.

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