We need transformational leaders to inspire us as a nation

SA’s democratic transformation is floundering for lack of appropriate 
leadership. The democracy has been hijacked by people who claim an entitlement to rule as a reward for their role in the freedom struggle.

The transformation process to create a just society cannot be achieved from a premise of entitled leaders. It is not surprising that our society struggles with persistent poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Only transformational leaders can take us back to the vision that inspired us at our birth as a nation and make us believe again in our capacity for greatness. Only transformational leaders can inspire us to work together to build education, economic and health systems that are inclusive and sustainable.

The student uprising about transformation in higher education is an opportunity for us to recalibrate our approach to shaping our future. Transformational leaders are in short supply in our country. We have a huge task of creating the environment for them to emerge from the generations of young people who have come to realise that they are the leaders they have been waiting for.

I have no doubt that the only way Africa can break the vicious cycle of post-liberation, male-dominated authoritarian governance systems is to encourage and support the efforts of the next generations, preparing for leadership roles.  My generation have to play the bridging role between our generation, the one after and others after that. This is a mission we cannot escape. The first lesson is to reach deeply into the stores of wisdom from our rich culture.

It is said that, inyathi ibuzwa kwabaphambili (a hunter has to inquire from those ahead about the tracks of a buck). We have to learn from our traditional system of sharing knowledge between generations that also respected the creativity 
and energy of youth, enabling complementarities in tackling new challenges to society. The second lesson my generation should learn is how to carry out this ministry of presence in the postliberation period.

Our freedom, like the human body in Celtic tradition, was born physically 
complete, but its heart has to be continually birthed to make it whole. That wholeness can only come from embracing the principles of ubuntu. The values of ubuntu embrace the feminine in the human species. The third lesson is that inter-generational work needs quality time and unhurried conversations. My 
generation need to carve out quality time to be present in the working and personal lives of younger generations.

Quality time is critical to encourage circles of conversations around values-based social engagements. The fourth lesson is that bridging can be a very painful process. A bridge has to endure everything and know that it will be trampled on and be eroded and become rusty. So, bridging roles come with a health warning! There is no model of bridging we can draw on as my generation – we are the trailblazers in the intergenerational development process.

This bridging is not just between one or two generations but crosses many. Our job is also complicated by the reality of the 21st-century global community. With regard to bridging: First, one has to constantly remember bridging is a long-term engagement process. Bridges are built to last. Identifying, recruiting and developing appropriate institutional 
partnerships to harness the intergenerational opportunities, is crucial. 

Second, one has to start with the self. Personal growth and capacity to lead the self is critical. So many young men and women find this threatening, so it is important to share one’s own story – warts and all. It is in showing that failure is not something we should fear, but that we should embrace its lessons. This would free the next generations from futile attempts to avoid failure or hide failed attempts. 

Third, it is critical to make these intergenerational conversations fun. They need to just have fun while they are learning something from one another and from the bridge. Fourth, intergenerational conversations need a safe place and to make participants feel safe. The dominant narrative of both the political and the masculine culture in my society has created a culture of fear. Safety comes from trust and mutual respect. This takes time to build. 

Fifth, bridging also involves modelling the risk taking that is needed at key points in the transformation of society. Telling one’s story, public speaking and critical stances on key national issues can be inspirational for those who feel afraid. But single voices, important as they are, need to be reinforced by networks of those playing the bridging role.

We need to harness the momentum of the student uprising and encourage young professionals, entrepreneurs, business people and civil society leaders to form networks of intergenerational support for the emergent leaders. Supportive intergenerational support needs to respect and not hijack the initiatives by young leaders. It is in our common interest to establish such mutually supportive transformative leadership enhancing networks. Our children and grandchildren deserve no less.

December 2015