DOCSLIB.ORG

Submitted in Accordance with the Requirements for the Degree of In

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Submitted in Accordance with the Requirements for the Degree of In ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND TRANSFORMATION - THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION. by VALIANT ABEL CLAPPER submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF ADMINISTRATION in the subject PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION atthe UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA PROMOTER: PROF DJ BRYNARD JOINT PROMOTER: PROF JC PAUW NOVEMBER 2000 • DECLARATION I declare that "ORGAN/SA TIONAL CULTURE AND TRANSFORMATION - THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION" is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. (student number- 448-690-0) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would be sadly lacking in gratitude and courtesy if I did not publicize my indebtedness to the many academics, practitioners, friends and colleagues who have contributed in various and selfless ways toward the completion of this thesis. I have greatly benefited from the assistance and suggestions of all with whom I have discussed aspects of this thesis over the past few years. The non-mentioning of their names is indirectly proportional to the sincere gratitude felt towards them. wish, however, to express special gratitude to the following persons: • Professors DJ Brynard and JC Pauw, respectively supervisor and joint supervisor for this thesis. • The Department of Public Service and Administration, particularly the members of the Transformation Unit, who granted permission to undertake the research for, and for granting the necessary interviews, guidance, and access to materials. • The CSD branch of the HSRC for a financial grant towards the completion of the research. • The Faculty of Economic Sciences of the Pretoria Technikon for financial assistance with which to "purchase" focus time in order to complete the thesis. Special thanks to Professors Maynard van der Merwe, Fires (PEJ) van Vuuren and the Faculty Research Committee. • Professor Geri Augusto (Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA) for discursive repasts, and intellectual diversion. • My friends, who always show their support, and who enrich my life with their self­ sharing. Thomas Parker, Piet Smuts, and Carl Nagel, thank you especially. • Leon De W Fourie, colleague and friend, for support, and for sharing pertinent life skills. • My family for constant encouragement, unfailing support, and firm assurance of your prayers. Uncle· Geoff, Maggie, Ashley, Michelle, Sam' - I am forever appreciative of you and your/my families. • Keith Jarrett, thank you for "personal mountains", Branford Marsalis for "the beautiful ones ... not yet born". Wynton Marsalis, Art Pepper, Joshua Redman, Cleo Laine, and Cassandra Wilson for accompanyment through the seemingly endless days and nights. • Mrs EM Ackeer snr., for moral and spiritual support. • Mama - you continue to surprise me with your strength, wisdom, and love. Your Janus-like abilities have throughout the years created access where there, without a doubt was none. No wonder you are my hero! • Lauren, Eaton, and Alden, for your love, laughter, confidence, support, and superhuman tolerance - making the stresses endurable, and the long hours worthwhile. • God for the assurance of always being present (Heb 13:5b), and for ceaselessly providing according to my days (Deut 33:25b). DEDICATION To Lauren: for encouragement, for space, for enthusiasm ... You are my favourite person, ALWAYS! SUMMARY Thls thesis is premised upon the fact that any new government i~ faced with the difficult challenge of transforming the value system of the public service and ,..- . - - " incur11bent public officials if. that oJ th~ ancien regime is in conflict wit~ its own. Tc;> achieve this, the new government invariably has to transform the latter in accordance - - - - 1" with its new goals, value systems, and' basic assumptions b_y introducing new laws . and regulations alien to the experience of the inherited bureaucracy. This implies . exacting discontinuous change, requiring particular attention to organisational culture, and not mere tinkering with organisational charts, salary parity and related . ~ . ~ ~ ":) matters. The thesis finds that the interpretation of transformation currently endorsed by the - . ' . DPSA, and other transformation partners falls short of taking sufficient cognisance of - ' ' - . ~ the importance of the organisational culture perspective, with the result that the - ~ - - transformation process to date evinces a minimal degree of success in relation to • . • 9-.. organisational culture change. Evidence indicates that organisational culture is not sufficiently comprehended, defined, communicated, coordinated, or managed, due to the non-existence of feasible organisational culture change strategies or an adequately functioning maternal holding culture. This, accompanied by a lack of implementation of a national vision in relation to organisational culture change and a lack of political will in relation to organisational culture transformation, further stifles directed management and change of public service organisational culture. Proposals for the improvement of the above situation are put forward. The most important of these is the establishment of an informed maternal holding c11~ure, based on the mandate of Cabioet that the public service mu?t be. transformed in.~ order to achieve RDP goals. Establishing a successful maternal holding culture requires the promotion of the comprehension of the organis~tional culture perspective, an.d clear communication ancl coordina!ion of_ organisational culture and change strategies related thereto. This, in tun:i, demands, inter a/ia, the urgent . • . I . building of management capacity in matters pertaining to organ_isational culture, backed by political commitment and the fostering of a common vision that will ' ' ' provide the direction and values for a new organisational culture. ' ,. ~ Key terms: Organisational culture; Public service transformation; Maternal holding culture; Interpretive schemes; Logics of action; Second order ·change; Sub-cultures; Organisational climate; Department of Public Service and Administration; Basic assumptions; Values; Artefacts. A . .• ~ .. '! ~t ~ ~ !". l . ,, . ' 3~:;2. 3b 70968 CL.AP \\\\~\~\~fi~\\~\1~11\~\l\~\\\ 0001787662 ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICE TRANSFORMATION - ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the problem ..................................................................... 1 1.3 Originality and relevance ...................................................................... 3 1.4 Frame of reference ............................................................................... 4 1.4.1 Geo-dimension ..................................................................................... 5 1.4.2 Time frame ........................................................................................... 6 1.5 Research methodologies employed ..................................................... 6 1.5.1 Interviews, official documents, and other sources utilised ................... 9 1.5.1.1 Excess to pertinent documentation ...................................................... 10 1.5.1.2 Observation and discourse analysis .................................................... 1O 1.5.2 Validation through triangulation ............................................................ 11 1.6 Reference technique ............................................................................ 11 1.7 Terminological clarification ................................................................... 12 1.7.1 Transformation ..................................................................................... 12 1.7.2 Reform .................................................................................................. 14 1.7.3 Rationalisation ...................................................................................... 15 1.7.4 Organisational culture ..................................................... , .................... 15 1.7.5 Maternal holding culture ....................................................................... 16 1.7.6 Public service and public sector........................................................... 18 1.8 Summary and sequence of chapters .................................................... 18 1.9 End notes ............................................................................................. 20 CHAPTER TWO: SURVEYING ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE - IN PURSUIT OF AN OPERATIONAL DEFINITION 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 21 2.2 Historical development of the organisational culture perspective ........ 22 2.2.1 Major approaches in organisation theory ............................................. 24 2.2.1.1 Classical organisation theory(+/- 1776-1945) ..................................... 24 2.2.1.2 Classical philosophers(+/- 1920-1945) ............................................... 25 2.2.1.3 Neoclassical organisation theory (1945-1978) ..................................... 26 2.2.1.4 Modem structural organisation theory(+/- 1969-1982) ........................ 28 2.2.1.5 Systems and contingency theories of organisation (+/- 1970-1990) .................................................................................... 29 2.2.1.6 The power and politics
Load more

Recommended publications
  • National Liquor Authority Register
    NATIONAL LIQUOR AUTHORITY REGISTER - 30 JUNE 2013 Registration Registered Person Trading Name Activities Registered Person's Principal Place Of Business Province Date of Transfer & (or) Date of Number Permitted Registration Relocations Cancellation RG 0006 The South African Breweries Limited Sab -(Gauteng) M & D 3 Fransen Str, Chamber GP 2005/02/24 N/A N/A RG 0007 Greytown Liquor Distributors Greytown Liquor Distributors D Lot 813, Greytown, Durban KZN 2005/02/25 N/A N/A RG 0008 Expo Liquor Limited Expo Liquor Limited (Groblersdal) D 16 Linbri Avenue, Groblersdal, 0470 MPU N/A 28/01/2011 RG 0009 Expo Liquor Limited Expo Liquor Limited (Ga D Stand 14, South Street, Ga-Rankuwa, 0208 NW N/A 27/09/2011 Rankuwa) RG 0010 The South African Breweries Limited Sab (Port Elizabeth) M & D 47 Kohler Str, Perseverence, Port Elizabeth EC 2005/02/24 N/A N/A RG 0011 Lutzville Vineyards Ko-Op Ltd Lutzville Vineyards Ko-Op Ltd M & D Erf 312 Kuils River, Pinotage Str, WC 2008/02/20 N/A N/A Saxenburg Park, Kuils River RG 0012 Louis Trichardt Beer Wholesalers (Pty) Louis Trichardt Beer Wholesalers D Erf 05-04260, Byles Street, Industrial Area, LMP 2005/06/05 N/A N/A Ltd Louis Trichardt, Western Cape RG 0013 The South African Breweries Limited Sab ( Newlands) M & D 3 Main Road, Newlands WC 2005/02/24 N/A N/A RG 0014 Expo Liquor Limited Expo Liquor Limited (Rustenburg) D Erf 1833, Cnr Ridder & Bosch Str, NW 2007/10/19 02/03/2011 Rustenburg RG 0015 Madadeni Beer Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd Madadeni Beer Wholesalers (Pty) D Lot 4751 Section 7, Madadeni, Newcastle, KZN
    [Show full text]
  • National Liquor Authority Register
    National Liquor Register Q1 2021 2022 Registration/Refer Registered Person Trading Name Activities Registered Person's Principal Place Of Business Province Date of Registration Transfer & (or) Date of ence Number Permitted Relocations or Cancellation alterations Ref 10 Aphamo (PTY) LTD Aphamo liquor distributor D 00 Mabopane X ,Pretoria GP 2016-09-05 N/A N/A Ref 12 Michael Material Mabasa Material Investments [Pty] Limited D 729 Matumi Street, Montana Tuine Ext 9, Gauteng GP 2016-07-04 N/A N/A Ref 14 Megaphase Trading 256 Megaphase Trading 256 D Erf 142 Parkmore, Johannesburg, GP 2016-07-04 N/A N/A Ref 22 Emosoul (Pty) Ltd Emosoul D Erf 842, 845 Johnnic Boulevard, Halfway House GP 2016-10-07 N/A N/A Ref 24 Fanas Group Msavu Liquor Distribution D 12, Mthuli, Mthuli, Durban KZN 2018-03-01 N/A 2020-10-04 Ref 29 Golden Pond Trading 476 (Pty) Ltd Golden Pond Trading 476 (Pty) Ltd D Erf 19, Vintonia, Nelspruit MP 2017-01-23 N/A N/A Ref 33 Matisa Trading (Pty) Ltd Matisa Trading (Pty) Ltd D 117 Foresthill, Burgersfort LMP 2016-09-05 N/A N/A Ref 34 Media Active cc Media Active cc D Erf 422, 195 Flamming Rock, Northriding GP 2016-09-05 N/A N/A Ref 52 Ocean Traders International Africa Ocean Traders D Erf 3, 10608, Durban KZN 2016-10-28 N/A N/A Ref 69 Patrick Tshabalala D Bos Joint (PTY) LTD D Erf 7909, 10 Comorant Road, Ivory Park GP 2016-07-04 N/A N/A Ref 75 Thela Management PTY LTD Thela Management PTY LTD D 538, Glen Austin, Midrand, Johannesburg GP 2016-04-06 N/A 2020-09-04 Ref 78 Kp2m Enterprise (Pty) Ltd Kp2m Enterprise D Erf 3, Cordell
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter One the Research Question
    CHAPTER ONE THE RESEARCH QUESTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION It is estimated that approximately twenty languages around the world become extinct every year. And this, according to Prof Rusandre Hendrikse, Department of Linguistics at Unisa, (interview, 3 February 2004), is a conservative estimate if one takes into consideration the wide range of communication that takes place through dialects (see also Mail & Guardian, 14 August 2003). In their work, Vanishing Voices, Nettle and Romaine (2002:111) use a poem, written in 1916, to illustrate how fast languages are disappearing: Languages die like rivers. Words wrapped around your tongue today and broken to the shape of thought between your teeth and lips speaking now and today shall be faded hieroglyphics ten thousands years from now. South Africa’s indigenous languages are not immune to this phenomenon, they will soon no longer be heard if the speakers continue to expect the government and statutory bodies, like the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), to maintain and safeguard these languages. The reasons for the extinction of languages, or language death, range from civil wars, self-genocide by a speech community, language shift, and the appeal of the so-called modern languages to younger speakers. However, the main cause of extinction can be found in globalisation and the pressure exercised on mother-tongue speakers of dominant languages, such as English. Increasing numbers of indigenous language speakers adopt the dominant language or employ code-switching every day. The possible extinction of the indigenous languages of South Africa will mean the disappearance of a rich element of the country’s indigenous culture.
    [Show full text]
  • CONTENTS INHOUD and Weekly Index En Weekllkse Indeks Page Gazette B/Adsy Koerent No
    2 No.30413 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 NOVEMBER 2007 For purposes of reference, all Proclamations, Government Aile Proklamasies, Goewermentskennisgewlngs, Aigemene Notices, General Notices and Board Notices published are Kennisgewings en Raadskennisgewings gepubliseer, word vir included in the following table of contents which thus forms a verwysingsdoeleindes in die volgende Inhoudsopgawe inge­ weekly index. Let yourself be guided by the Gazelle numbers in sluit wat dus 'n weeklikse indeks voorstel. Laat uself deur die the righthand column: Koerantnommers in die regterhandse kolom lei: CONTENTS INHOUD and weekly Index en weekllkse Indeks Page Gazette B/adsy Koerent No. No. No. No. No. No. GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL NOTICES GOEWERMENTS- EN ALGEMENE KENNISGEWINGS Agriculture, Department of Arbeid, Departement van Government Notices Goewermentskennisgewings R. 993 Marketing of Agricultural Products Act R. 1005 Wet op Mannekragopleiding (56/1981): (47i1996): Establishment of statutory Wysiging van regulasies ................... 59 30393 measures: Records and returns by R.1010 Wet op Arbeidsverhoudinge, 1995: abattoirs and exporters of live pigs . 3 30393 Intrekking van Goewermentskennis­ R. 994 do.: do.: Registration by abattoirs and gewing: Boubedingingsraad Noord- en exporters of live pigs . 11 30393 Wes-Boland.... 3 30400 R. 995 do.: do.: Determination of guideline R.1011 do.: Boubedingingsraad, Noord-enWes- price: Levies relating to pigs . 19 30393 Boland: Uitbreiding van Kollektiewe Ooreenkoms na Nie-Partye 5 30400 Health, Department of R. 1012 do.: do.: Verlenging van tydperk van Government Notices Kollektiewe Ooreenkoms 205 30400 R. 1004 Occupational Health and Safety Act Aigemene Kennisgewings (8511993): Classification and labelling of chemical substances: Regulations . 29 30393 1339 Labour Relations Act, 1995: Cancellation R. 1006 Health Professions Act (56/1974): of registration of an employers' organisa­ Regulations: Qualifications for registra- tion: United Food, Beverage and Allied tion of emergency care practitioners .
    [Show full text]
  • ANC-Today-4-June-2021.Pdf
    ANC TODAY VOICE OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS 4 – 10 June 2021 Conversations with the President Relegating the apartheid constitution to the dustbin of history n By President Cyril Ramaphosa ST May is the anniver- public’ is generally defined as gave them this as their own.” sary of an event in our state in which supreme power is history that most South held by the people and their elect- It was a Constitution written by Africans would rather ed representatives, this was not and for a racial minority, and it 31not remember. the case in South Africa. used faith to justify tyranny. It out- lined the administration of gov- Sixty years ago, in 1961, apart- The Constitution of the apartheid ernment, providing that only white heid South Africa became a re- republic pledged allegiance to people were eligible to vote and public, cutting its ties with the God, “who gathered our forebears serve as public representatives. It British Empire. But while a ‘re- together from many lands and contained no Bill of Rights. Revolutionary Dear Mr President We stand with the women of morality Youth and Morality: Palestine: their struggle A New Programme is our struggle 4 of Action 7 9 2 ANC Today CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT We have said that in our demo- cratic republic, everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law. South Africa today is a country where the administration of justice is vested in independent courts and a judiciary that is subject only to the Constitution.
    [Show full text]
  • If I Was President for a Day What an Exhausting Day. I've Had Meeting
    If I was President for a Day What an exhausting day. I've had meeting after meeting, made the same speech so many times my throat feels raw, and nearly all feeling has been shaken from my hand. I’ve only been President for six days, but the workload has been a tsunami of stress, making the six days feel like six months. I’m already in my pyjamas and silk slippers, but the sheets of my four posters are still pulled taut across the mattress, as I overlook the now darkening gardens of Mahlamba Ndlopfu my new home. I don’t take in anything though. I’m lost in thought, as the night creeps in. The last of my advisors have retired to their rooms, or driven home about three hours ago, and my silver wristwatch has told me that ten thirty has come and gone. I can’t stand it anymore. With a nod of my head and a swish of fabric, I slip into my silk nightgown. At the door of my room, I discard my slippers and proceed barefoot across the marble floors of Mahlamba Ndlopfu. A sudden unease that comes with the night has accompanied me like a shadow. Down a staircase and down a hall, the constant pattern making the house seem circular, never-ending. As I walk, excuses as to what the President Of South Africa is doing wandering around The Presidency flitter through my mind. My own shadows claw at me like spiderwebs, dripping off of me like sheets of black silk.
    [Show full text]
  • 4 Slain PAC Members to Be Buried in Graaff-Reinet
    4 slain PAC members to be buried in Graaff-Reinet 4 SLAIN PAC MEMBERS TO BE BURIED IN GRAAFF-REINET 08/02/2002. 01403003109 Newspaper article 6 April 1952 has become known as the beginning of the struggle in South Africa against oppression 6 APRIL 1952 HAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE IN SOUTH AFRICA AGAINST OPPRESSION 06/04/2002. 01403003306 Newspaper article 8 Zion Street, Paarl has been put out to tender by the Department of Public Works 8 ZION STREET, PAARL HAS BEEN PUT OUT TO TENDER BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 30/08/2001. 01403002525 Newspaper article 100 Years Old and Still Afloat! 100 YEARS OLD AND STILL AFLOAT! 27/02/2002. 01403003441 Newspaper article 1000-year-old Viking ship discovered in Danish fjord 1000-YEAR-OLD VIKING SHIP DISCOVERED IN DANISH FJORD 07/09/1997. 01403002245 Newspaper article 1835 South African directory & almanac 1835 SOUTH AFRICAN DIRECTORY & ALMANAC : Including free map of 1835 -- Cape Town: Scribes Ink, 01405000006 Copies: 1 CD-ROM 1878 Voters' roll 1878 VOTERS' ROLL : Cape western districts -- Cape Town: Scribes Ink, 01405000005 Copies: 1 CD-ROM 1902 Voter's roll of Cape Town 1902 VOTER'S ROLL OF CAPE TOWN : Districts 1 to 6 -- Cape Town: Scribes Ink, 01405000004 Copies: 1 CD-ROM 1956 Pass law protest remembered 1956 PASS LAW PROTEST REMEMBERED 03/08/2000. 01403000663 Newspaper article 2200-year-old Chinese bronze cranes found 2200-YEAR-OLD CHINESE BRONZE CRANES FOUND : Xian, China 04/12/2001. 01403002942 Newspaper article Aap is uit die mou - en sy's 'n v rou! AAP IS UIT DIE MOU - EN SY'S 'N VROU! : Paleoantropoloe onthul nog 'n wereld-eerste : South African palaeontologists are again the first in the world, with the excavation of a complete female skull at Kromdraai 27/04/2000.
    [Show full text]
  • PLUS: Cosatu's Bold R200bn Rescue Plan for Eskom
    AFRICA’S BEST READ December 13 to 19 2019 Vol 35 No 50 mailandguardian mg.co.za LOAD-SHEDDING There is a solution Common sense says we need to shift to a mix of renewable energy sources NOW PLUS: Cosatu’s bold R200bn rescue plan for Eskom Pages 4, 5 & 21 Products subject to availability. Cape Town | Johannesburg | Port Elizabeth | Pretoria | Durban 0860 665 533 2 Mail & Guardian December 13 to 19 2019 Mail & Guardian December 13 to 19 2019 3 IN BRIEF Floods, yet a dwindling dam While some areas in South Africa face a crip- Zozibini pling drought, parts of Centurion and Pretoria TWEET OF THE WEEK NUMBERS OF THE WEEK have been underwater. The extreme weather, The cost of the new diamond- Tunzi which saw days of rain resulted in displaced studded Miss Universe crown residents and about 150 people being rescued — dubbed "The Power of after being trapped in Mamelodi by fl oods on Unity” — that was placed on theR73m head of Miss South Monday. The air force was called in to rescue Africa, Zozibini Tunzi, after she was crowned numerous people in Centurion. Because this rain fl ows north, to the Limpopo River, it Miss Universe this week hasn’t done much for the Vaal Dam — which is down to less than 40% of its capacity. At The decline in water levels least the tunnel bringing water from Lesotho the Vaal Dam has experi- is back in action. Not that there’s much water in Lesotho. Don’t wash your driveway with a enced even though there hose.
    [Show full text]
  • Years of Nelson Mandela & Albertina Sisulu
    years of Nelson Mandela & Albertina Sisulu THE PRESIDENCY ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 2018 THE PRESIDENCY REPUBLIC100 OF SOUTH AFRICA THE PRESIDENCY ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 years of Nelson Mandela & Albertina Sisulu VOTE NO. 1 100 THE PRESIDENCY REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA SUBMISSION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY To the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, I have the honour of submitting to you, in terms of Section 40 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 (Act 1 of 1999), the Annual Report of The Presidency for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018. Ms Lusanda Mxenge Acting Chief Operations Officer i THE PRESIDENCY ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 2 THE PRESIDENCY ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 years of Nelson Mandela TABLE OF CONTENTS & Albertina Sisulu PART A: GENERAL INFORMATION 4 DEPARTMENT GENERAL INFORMATION 4 INTRODUCTION BY THE MINISTER 1004 FOREWORD BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL 7 OVERVIEW BY THE ACCOUNTING OFFICER 10 REPORT OF THE ACCOUNTING OFFICER 15 STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY AND CONFIRMATION OF ACCURACY FOR THE ANNUAL REPORT 23 STRATEGIC OVERVIEW 25 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 28 PART B: PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 31 AUDITOR-GENERAL’S REPORT: PREDETERMINED OBJECTIVES 31 OVERVIEW OF DEPARTMENTAL PERFORMANCE 31 STRATEGIC OUTCOMES ORIENTED GOALS 34 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION BY PROGRAMME 47 Programme 1: Administration 47 Programme 2: Executive Support 57 PART C: GOVERNANCE 63 INTRODUCTION 63 RISK MANAGEMENT 63 FRAUD AND CORRUPTION 64 MINIMISING CONFLICT OF INTEREST 64 CODE OF CONDUCT
    [Show full text]
  • Ten Questions for Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King
    What to do about the babies? Ten Questions for Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King By Joshua Sparrow, Harvard Medical and some evil in the best of us. Q. 8. How do we take action when the School, Boston , USA, When we discover this, we are less challenge seems insurmountable? [email protected] prone to hate our enemies. A. Human progress is neither Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go From Here? 1967 automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice Caught in the crossfire of grownup politics, Q. 4. When a nation fails to deploy every babies and children are traumatized, or possible resource to protect its children, it requires sacrifice, suffering, and maimed, or murdered – in Gaza, Syria, a has lost its moral compass. When a nation struggle; the tireless exertions Malaysian jet, in the U.S. heartlands, at its harms its children, it has lost its way. How and passionate concern of do we find ours? border and across the world. We all want to dedicated individuals. protect the babies and children, but how? A. We must learn to live together Martin Luther King, Jr., Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery In other desperate times, leaders like as brothers or perish together as Story, Harper & Brothers, 1958 Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King fools. were able to restore hope and inspire Q. 9. What can we do? action that changed the world. Perhaps Martin Luther King, Jr., Speech in St. Louis, Missouri, March 22, A. Courageous people do not fear their responses to past challenges can help 1965 us find our way today.
    [Show full text]
  • State of the Nation Address by His Excellency Jacob G Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa on the Occasion of the Joint Sitting of Parliament, Cape Town
    State of the Nation Address By His Excellency Jacob G Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa on the occasion of the Joint Sitting of Parliament, Cape Town The Speaker of the National Assembly, The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, Deputy President of the Republic, Honourable Cyril Ramaphosa, Former Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Honourable Chief Justice of the Republic, and all esteemed members of the Judiciary, Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Premiers and Speakers of Provincial Legislatures, Chairperson of SALGA, and all local government leadership, Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, The Heads of Chapter 9 Institutions, Leaders from all sectors, Members of the diplomatic corps, Honourable members, Distinguished guests Fellow South Africans, Good evening, sanibonani, molweni, riperile, dumelang, ndi madekwana. It is a great pleasure to address you on this first State of the Nation Address of the fifth democratic administration. Let me begin by extending our deepest condolences on the sad passing of the Secretary of Parliament, Mr Michael Coetzee. His contribution to the struggle for freedom and democracy will never be forgotten. Last week we also lost our mother, Mama Epainette Mbeki. Her guidance and wisdom will be sorely missed. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Mbeki family. Our hearts go out to the families of SANDF members who died in a tragic helicopter crash in Mpumalanga today during a training camp. We wish the injured a speedy recovery. Compatriots, We have recently emerged from a successful national general election held on the 7th of May.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Ruth First Memorial Lecture Delivered by Niren Tolsi Starting The
    2018 Ruth First Memorial Lecture delivered by Niren Tolsi Starting the Fire Three children died in a fire at Fannin Road informal settlement outside Durban on 10 June 2017. The reports of their deaths were minimal and vague. They were girls who may have been aged two, three and six-years-old, according to East Coast Radio. Or, they may have been a pair of five-year-old twins, with a younger sister who could have been three, according to News24. There were a few certainties, however: They were poor; the girls lived in a shack. Their lives ended excruciatingly; the neighbours who woke up to the girls’ screams in the early morning testified to this. The dead were black. Aside from one story in The Mercury newspaper, none of the reports named the twins: Snegugu and Snenhlanhla Mtolo (six-years-old) and their three-year-old sister, Esihle. Three days earlier Madré Johnston and her husband Tony burnt to death outside their home in Elandskraal near Knysna. According to the Sunday Times, Tony was found next to the family’s cars on top of the bodies of Madré and their son, Michael. Madré was eight-months pregnant when she died.The couple would have celebrated Michael’s third birthday that afternoon. We know the contents of the final WhatsApp message Madré sent. It was to her neighbour, Anton du Plessis, in which she described the “red glow” of the fire nearing their home early that morning. We know Du Plessis and his wife Anita survived by fleeing in their Land Rover, and that they packed their three dogs in with them.
    [Show full text]