Anti-corruption activist calls for ‘epic leadership’

Augetto Graig – Corruption and unethical behaviour should not be allowed to sabotage Africa’s Agenda 2030 or Namibia’s own national development objectives, anti-corruption champion Thulisile Madonsela, said in Windhoek last week.The Namibia Manufacturers’ Association (NMA) played host to Madonsela, also the former South African public protector, at the annual gala dinner on Thursday evening last week. In a measured tone, she spoke about how to stop corruption from preventing the attainment of national goals. According to her, the best way to achieve the restriction of corruption is through “epic leadership”. She defines epic leadership as being ethical, purpose driven and committed to service. “When we think of corruption it is often the big ones, the public procurement of goods with kick-backs, overpaying, false billing, overcharging,” she said. According to her, recent estimates put the cost of corruption in South Africa at about R27 billion a year lost from the public purse. Based on 10%-overbilling of government, “I do believe this is a conservative estimate”, she said.“The cost of business is increased due to corruption,” she said. “If we focus on what the State loses, we might ask what that has to do with manufacturing. State procurement has implications for manufacturers but corruption transcends State procurement. It poisons the entire State economy. Corruption creates an uneven playing field and affects every business person and every human being,” she said.‘Retail corruption’According to her, attention must also be paid to pervasive transactional corruption - also known as retail corruption - which involves low-ranking officials or law enforcement officers.“Why do we want the playing field levelled?” she asked. When “a corrupt environment gives advantages to the politically connected and those who can buy their way in”, it leads to “discouraging your best players that would lift entire communities by doing great work. Young people give up because they are not given the support or opportunities they deserve.” This practice leads to “undermining collective development”, Madonsela said. “In the end the entire community will suffer,” she warned. Madonsela believes there is a prima facie case for the alleged state capture in South Africa. This is an even more toxic form of corruption, she says.“Those given opportunities are not ready to deliver, discouraging the worthy and encouraging laziness and get-rich-quick mentalities.” It perverts development as much as corruption perverts policy and planning priorities, she said.“If you want to strengthen the implementation of development ask: Are the leaders ethical and are they doing what is purpose driven?” “Ethical, purpose driven, understanding impact and committed to service of long term goals: Epic leaders can foster a closer link between anti-corruption and development and are conscious of the consequences of their decisions.” Above all peace is required for development but, “as long as there is injustice there cannot be sustainable peace”, Madonsela says.

Anti-corruption activist calls for ‘epic leadership’

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-09

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Anti-corruption activist calls for ‘epic leadership’

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-09

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