Professor Sipho Seepe’s recent article in the Sowetan that morals are not necessary for leadership in politics must rank as his poorest contribution to national debate yet, obviously blinded by his well-known support for Zuma’s ascension to power.
What is comforting though is that he is not even being supported by the man he is trying to defend. Zuma has apologised twice for behaviour that appalled many South Africans probably as a recognition that such behaviour is morally reprehensible and is unbecoming of a head of state — a fact Seepe recognises somewhat in his ingratiating article. Since the indiscretions Zuma has gone further to call for a debate on the country’s moral direction — obviously this major development that elevates this issue of morals in politics has been missed by the esteemed professor.
Seepe and the few who see nothing wrong with fathering kids out of wedlock — a direct result of the unprotected sex that is at the heart of the government’s ABC message ignores the dire consequences of such mixed messages of not leading by example in a country where millions are destined to die of Aids given the high rate of infection.
To argue that “everyone is doing it” and go on to quote unrelated examples of kids fathered out of wedlock by Mbhazima Shilowa and Mvume Dandala is in my view below the belt discourse that, if there was any truth in these wild allegations, invites us to strive to be like the lowest common denominator among us. In my understanding, Shilowa simply never refused his child and Dandala, who turns 58 this year, fathered a kid when he was 17, way before he was married. How this excuses Zuma’s philandering behaviour and makes it OK, boggles the mind.
If we intend building a country based on ubuntu — a value system we all agree with — then our leaders must be expected to live up to some kind of basic ethics and moral code. This is underpinned by legislation and in the private sector in codes such as the King Code on Corporate Governance. In all of these and other related unwritten rules there is the expectation that regardless of the weakness of human beings, leaders must strive to be good and show the way of how all in society desire to be.
There are higher standards for a head of state — it cannot be that because we are all fallible it can never be correct to point out when our head of state has let us down. Those who point out this fact, be it commentators or those Seepe labels as “pseudo-analysts” and “opportunists”, need not be perfect before they do so. They only need to be citizens who must also follow their own advice in creating a society where sexual immorality is still scorned at and never excused.
Given the public outcry that followed Zuma’s indiscretions it is clear that this society does not share Seepe’s dismissiveness about values. The collective cringe by many citizens including ANC members means that the conscience of the nation is not dead and one hopes the debate opened by Zuma himself will focus on rebuilding our moral fibre and ensure we never accept Seepe’s invitation to settle for the lowest common denominator among us. In a sense the corruption in our country is a direct result of the loss of a sense of embarrassment and shame that has attacked our body politic. For the sake of future generations, we have to bring ourselves back from that brink.
JJ the hypocrite,trying very hard to justify morality at the Cope moral highergrounders.
Ethics, it needs to be a discussion on ETHICS, leave personal morality out of it.
It’s not only Seepe that has gone public with such sentiments; I read something similar on the Business Day where Phatekile Holomisa was also trying to defend Zuma. Perhaps these two are trying to raise their profile amongst Zuma’s camo of supporters.
For my money, Seepe is a moron of a professor and lacks any credibility…especially when it concerns his opinion of Zuma and / or his actions.
He is a fair reflection of the attitude of the majority of Black indigenous men in this country. If I’m wrong let me know, but there is scant respect for the modern rights of black women or are they allowed to have more than one husband and wear mini skirts as they please. Of course not, it’s not traditionally correct. So who are these great traditionalists? Seems everyone who struggled to pass woodwork now claims to be a traditionalist, and that is over 50% of this population. Dumb dumber dumbest.
Judge to Zuma: “How low can you go, Jacob?”
Zuma answers: “About a chihuihui.”
Bring on the3 next elections. The DA campaign is already run.
Well said good article.
Onkgopotse,
Do you seriously believe that SA’s citizens believe in the concept of ubuntu ?
I’d like to – I’d like to believe I follow the concept – but if I read the blogs in the M&G (and if they are representative of society) then I suspect not…
And if not, what replaces it ?
Morals are indeed not needed by a good leader, however, he must SEEM to possess them.*
That’s what I got from Machiavelli anyway.
Thank you for a well written article. The following quote sums it up ….
“In a sense the corruption in our country is a direct result of the loss of a sense of embarrassment and shame that has attacked our body politic. For the sake of future generations, we have to bring ourselves back from that brink.”
Zuma is representing South Africa in Britain where the press are having a field day. How embarrassing for ALL of us to have another country’s press insult,criticize, mock and ridicule him knowing our collective hands are tied because what they write is true and Zuma’s actions indefensible. He is a blight on South Africa and should either be removed or step aside, the sooner the better!!
Seepe epitomizes grovelling, no one should take his views seriously. The tragedy is that he ingratiates himself to the president at the risk of compromising what constitutes good morals and ethics. I am just glad that for those who blindly supported Zuma in his quest for power and the presidency, the chickens are inexorably coming home to roost. I wonder when will we hear from Jon Qwelane, his silence on the latest Zuma misdemeanour is certainly deafening.
Zuma and the ANC have shamed us all and continue to do so. I am NOT proudlt South African. I am ashamed that we have such bad people reresenting us and have made us the laughing stock of the world.
@ sirjay: Agreed. The question is not about private morality or ‘role models’; it is about the ethical public conduct of elected officials whose mandate is to SERVE the people who elect them. We do not elect the office holders’ families’; we elect the office holders.
As a Constitutional Democracy we have a public code of ethical conduct based on two essential principles: even-handed application of the law to ALL and the AVOIDANCE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. It is not my business if Mr. Zuma wants to exercise his freedom in pursuit of private pleasure. It IS my business if he uses state funds to subsidise that pleasure.
If Mr. Zuma is so simple minded as to believe that he is exempt from contracting HIV or passing it on to potential partners and offspring, he may have a very painful future. AIDS in governing circles is not unheard of. Several members of the government have died of it–or more accurately of opportunistic infections that thrive in immuno-deficient bodies.
It is everyone’s business when an office holder or prominent politician is involved in CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. And that is rampant in the ANC and the government. At least R100 billion of public funds have gone into private pockets in the past 15 years.
The apparent selection of a future president of the nation by an ANC cabal without benefit of election is a HUGE conflict of interest.
Clean up conflicts of interest if you want a democracy. Morals follow.
JJ has been focusing too much of his public commentary on the ANC and the government. When does he get the time to do his Cope work?
The saddest part is what it says about us, that this is the best we can come up with, JZ and Seepe.
Zuma’s actions (and Seepe’s) imply that he is not learned about Zulu culture or the South African Constitution. Just because there is a remedy for children born out of wedlock and for one person killing another does not make any of the those actions culturally acceptable, African or morally right. Where should the young ones learn about morals and values and future leadership roles but from their elders and leaders? Now our leaders and thinkers (Seepe and Zuma) think moral astuteness and exemplary values are unimportant for leaderhip? The African Renaissance is well and truly dead, bring on the dark ages. Remember Mobutu, Amin, Taylor, Savimbi, Mugabe, Papa Doc, Boigny, Bongo, Apartheid? How did these phenomena arise?
From now on – just note that, like with Zille, we know already before you pen down anything from our thoughts, that Zuma and ANC will for ever, at least for the duration of your short political life, remain a of your obsession, wa’khinya man
Ha ha ha
JJ, A wounded tiger…You don’t respect your elders en last tym i checked yo father was a Priest. Is this what u taught at home.
Well said sir what I have seen is some people like our beloved professor like people so blindly to an extend of being blinded to their short comings and even go as low as to say everyone is doing it whatever that means.One question is should we because everyone is doing it accept whatever comes and even go against our national principles and moral code if we still hold such.So woo to anyone who seems to believe there is nothing wrong with unprotected sex be it with a married man,woman or not married it is simply not morally right.Any country should have a standard why should our African states not have one.
South Africans must learn to use their votes to punish those who don’t deliver on their promises.
To a great many people it’s extraordinary that anyone was surprised by his behaviour. The man’s a conservative reactionary, with loose trousers and his hands in the cookie jar.
We *knew* this about him, and yet still elected him. The voters of this country need to start taking responsibility for voting nincompoops into power. Identity politics, and struggle loyalty just don’t cut it any more. It’s time to wake up. Apartheid is over. This is a democracy now. If a party cannot deliver, and displays egregiously immoral behaviour, we must not vote for them.
Otherwise what the heck is our democracy for?
well said
If our leaders can’t make the effort to walk the talk they talk while earning good salaries in relatively safe (except for ANC recalls) jobs, none of their voters ever will. It’s up to them to set high standards and live up to them. That’s why we pay tax!
Geejay, there is a saying that goes like this…”If aint got any thing good to say, then shut your trap”
JJ Seems to be black to me and he just criticised the prof so I think you’ve got nothing to say… need I continue?
It is very sad that in a democracy those who are suffering [see service delivery protests] because of inept, corrupt and morally bankrupt government continue to vote for that very same government. It would be far better if they devoted their energies to developing other political options for themselves.
Culture is not an excuse. Hundreds of Afrikaners get arrested daily for drunk driving…
@Vusi,
“JJ has been focusing too much of his public commentary on the ANC and the government. When does he get the time to do his Cope work?
If you don’t pay his salary, it’s none of your damn business.
It appears that some people attack JJ simply because he is a member of Cope.
Fact is this man speaks a lot more sense than I’ve ever heard coming out of the mouth of any ANC politician for many a year.
@Vusi
I also wonder when does JJ get time to do COPE work.The man is obssessed with JZ and the ANC.Maybe he realises what he could do if he was in the position Zizi Kodwa is in now if COPE was not formed.What’s worse this discussion is old news seeing that JZ is busy fielding questions on Zimbabwe,World Cup and Natinalisation in his UK visit.
I think time should now be spent on COPE’s Programme of action if there is any.
@Fama Bumungo
What has JZ’s extra-marital behaviour linked to the legacy of Mobutu, Amin, Taylor, Savimbi, Mugabe, Papa Doc, Boigny, Bongo, Apartheid?please do not come to this blog and insult our intelligence.If you continuously source your news from Capitalist media,you will always be given pessimistic side of the JZ stories.
JJ for President,you are spot on my brother.If I was in politics,you would be my leader,unlike those hypocrites like Xolela Mangcu,Adam Habbib,Sipho Seepe,Tinyiko Maluleka and some Sandile.To you,the truth is the truth irrespective of who must be told.Thank you for this article and do not change and become a useless lacky like the bunch of the above mentioned people.Project Thabo Mbeki is gone and they just have nothing left to offer but to become more stupid than before.Yes Thabo was not a perfect man but they just elevated him to a saint.
I really dont know what we’ve done to deserve brown-nosers like seepe to hog media spaces.Objective columnists/analysist seem to have been replaced by “shameless” human-beings who-for some reason or another-feel the need to sing for their supper.
Vusi….Just what do you think the Job of people in opposition is —to praise the ANC? Come of it Man!
Writing like I do here is actually a labour of love for me….I will write what I like, when I like, as often as I like…..That is what is called democracy…get used to it.
@Vusi I have no ambition to be a civil servant – have been there done that and got more than a tshirt my brother …..there is something called prgress so no I dont wish to do Zizi’s Job at all. Even if COPE was in power you dont go and become a media liaison officer after 15 years of experience in the field…come of it man. Learn to debate the issues and stop silly remarks that dont add value to thought leadership – the purpose of this blog.