Action and inaction will lead to the country we deserve, public protector says.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela yesterday urged Rhodes University graduates to step up and become a healing force to help turn around the many problems South Africa faces.

Speaking to a packed Guy Butler Theatre, Madonsela told graduating students to play an active role in trying to find solutions to problems like violence, crime, bad governance, poor economic growth and other social ills.

"The troubled world I am referring to can be seen in our communities, our institutions, our country, our continent and the world at large.
"You go into a world at odds with itself, a country at crossroads, a people crying for leadership." Madonsela urged graduates to work together to create national think-tanks that seek to support the implementation of the National Development Plan and even improve it.

"Whether anyone listens or not, rest assured, someone will eventually hear you. If no one listens, history will judge them harshly.

"As they say, people get the country they deserve and what we deserve is what we achieve through both our actions and our inactions," Madonsela said.
Although South Africa was facing many challenges, Madonsela reassured graduates that the country still belonged to all the people who lived in it and that their rights were protected by the Constitution. She called for everyone to work together towards nation building. "We must work towards building an inclusive society based on social justice, where each person's potential is freed, their quality of life improved and their human dignity respected."

According to Madonsela, everyone needs to play a role in ensuring the state is accountable, operates with integrity and is responsive to the needs of the people. Although
Madonsela was receiving yet another honorary doctorate of law for the acclaimed work she had done since appointed by President Jacob Zuma in 2009, the softly spoken people's champion refused to take all the credit. Instead, she praised the hundreds of men and women who worked in her office, saying the honorary doctorate was in recognition of her efforts as a "team builder".

"If it were up to me, I would turn the [honorary] degrees into trophies so each and every one in the public protector [office] gets the same recognition I am getting today. I am not a one-woman show."
Madonsela said the 300 people she worked with all respected the rule of law and shared a strong common belief in justice, good governance and fairness.

Earlier, during his introduction of Madonsela, history professor emeritus Paul Maylam said when President Jacob Zuma appointed her public protector in 2009 he urged her to pursue her work without fear or favour. He wondered whether Zuma now regretted her appointment.
Although her appointment was 100% endorsed by all political parties at the time, Maylam said he was not sure that was still the case after she tackled issues like the controversial government spending spree at Zuma's Nkandla home.

Article by: David Macgregor

Article source: Weekend Post

Photography by: Mike Holmes

DUE RECOGNITION: Thuli Madonsela receives her honorary doctorate at Rhodes University yesterday.