Phindi Twala
Championing ethics is not an add-on function of leadership — it is an integral part of a leader’s responsibility, says Phindile Twala, ethics and anti-corruption specialist at EthicsSA.
Twala said various reports have painted a bleak picture of the levels of ethics in South Africa and that all stakeholders are aware of the challenges. “We all know what is required in terms of the law, but people make rationalisations and cut corners. They might act unethically because a particular action has not specifically been legislated against. They might do so due to fear or due to their uncritical acceptance of authority. Or possibly even because they are too far down the unethical road to turn back.”
There are two types of ethical culture, Twala explained: a fear-based culture and a preferable, conviction-based culture. “To build this conviction-based culture we need leaders who are models of ethical behaviour. We also need to put in place organisational structures to ensure ethical behaviour, and develop staff with an ethics competence,” she said.