Rhodes University vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela yesterday laid into South Africa’s political elite, saying people “of questionable moral and ethical character” were running the country.
“The noble qualities and values of personal integrity, honesty, humility, compassion, respect for each other, fairness, forgiveness, empathy, selfless dedication and willingness to put others first, that were so beautifully exemplified by President Nelson Mandela, have given way to venality, a complete lack of integrity, moral decadence, profligacy, rampant corruption, deceit, and duplicity.”
The new vice-chancellor was speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Rhodes University graduation weekend a day before public protector Thuli Madonsela receives an honorary doctorate from him at today’s graduation session.
His comments echo those of Mandonsela who, in her findings, criticised the behaviour of South Africa’s political elites.
Rhodes spokesman Zamuxolo Matiwane said Madonsela would get an honorary doctorate of law to acknowledge her contribution to the human and civil rights movement over 30 years.
Mabizela told a packed Guy Butler Theatre South Africa had lost its moral compass by voting in “people who have no sense of the difference between right and wrong, just and unjust, fair and unfair, ethical and unethical” to positions of significance, power and influence.
He said South Africa had become a society where far too many people were mired in desperate survival, while at the same time, crass materialism and vulgar and ostentatious displays of personal wealth had become fashion statements for the political elite.
Referring to the disarray in key institutions such as the criminal justice system – which has recently lost or suspended several top officials – Mabizela urged the 2015 graduates to go out and make a difference in a society characterised by cynicism and despair.
Mabizela said the university encouraged debate about Rhodes’ colonial name which had been sparked by student protests at the University of Cape Town.
“We welcome the opening that has been created by our students to engage, debate and discuss our complex and uncomfortable past in earnest in order to forge a new and shared future.”
He, however, cautioned that to advance the creation of the kind of society envisioned in the South African Constitution, people would have to refrain from making sweeping, unhelpful and hurtful generalisations.
“We must respect each other’s views. We should never try to delegitimise, trivialise or be dismissive of views and experiences.”
He said people should be willing to be persuaded to change their position on the issue based on the quality of the argument advanced.
South Africa was still struggling to find a common set of values and had yet to forge a shared sense of national identity, he said.
“It will also require mature and visionary leadership, values-based leadership, compassionate leadership, bold and courageous leadership, moral and ethical leadership, accountable leadership, leadership that is guided by principles and one that eschews populism.” — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Rhodes VC slams elite
“The noble qualities and values of personal integrity, honesty, humility, compassion, respect for each other, fairness, forgiveness, empathy, selfless dedication and willingness to put others first, that were so beautifully exemplified by President Nelson Mandela, have given way to venality, a complete lack of integrity, moral decadence, profligacy, rampant corruption, deceit, and duplicity.”
The new vice-chancellor was speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Rhodes University graduation weekend a day before public protector Thuli Madonsela receives an honorary doctorate from him at today’s graduation session.
His comments echo those of Mandonsela who, in her findings, criticised the behaviour of South Africa’s political elites.
Rhodes spokesman Zamuxolo Matiwane said Madonsela would get an honorary doctorate of law to acknowledge her contribution to the human and civil rights movement over 30 years.
Mabizela told a packed Guy Butler Theatre South Africa had lost its moral compass by voting in “people who have no sense of the difference between right and wrong, just and unjust, fair and unfair, ethical and unethical” to positions of significance, power and influence.
He said South Africa had become a society where far too many people were mired in desperate survival, while at the same time, crass materialism and vulgar and ostentatious displays of personal wealth had become fashion statements for the political elite.
Referring to the disarray in key institutions such as the criminal justice system – which has recently lost or suspended several top officials – Mabizela urged the 2015 graduates to go out and make a difference in a society characterised by cynicism and despair.
Mabizela said the university encouraged debate about Rhodes’ colonial name which had been sparked by student protests at the University of Cape Town.
“We welcome the opening that has been created by our students to engage, debate and discuss our complex and uncomfortable past in earnest in order to forge a new and shared future.”
He, however, cautioned that to advance the creation of the kind of society envisioned in the South African Constitution, people would have to refrain from making sweeping, unhelpful and hurtful generalisations.
“We must respect each other’s views. We should never try to delegitimise, trivialise or be dismissive of views and experiences.”
He said people should be willing to be persuaded to change their position on the issue based on the quality of the argument advanced.
South Africa was still struggling to find a common set of values and had yet to forge a shared sense of national identity, he said.
“It will also require mature and visionary leadership, values-based leadership, compassionate leadership, bold and courageous leadership, moral and ethical leadership, accountable leadership, leadership that is guided by principles and one that eschews populism.” — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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