By Nizole Qete

 

Education is the real lever to transform our society. We are supposed to rediscover, discover, replant and plant because what matters the most is the seed that we plant, and with the current crop of students, the country can harvest that. These were the sentiments shared by the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature Deputy Speaker, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, during the second day of the Student Representative Council (SRC) Leadership Week last night.

Qoboshiyane delivered his address at Rhodes University Barrat Lecture Theatre under the concept of the "generational mission." He opened his address by highlighting the differences between the past leaders and current leaders. "We are not the generation of Charlotte Maxeke, Tshangana Gumede, but we are tapping wisdom from their courage and fortitude, for without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We give honour to them for their outstanding job during pernicious and difficult times when everything was difficult, but they defied the odds. Today, they are towns and figures of the world. That is the kind of leaders we are here to solicit today,” he said.

Qoboshiyane touched upon the concern of a prevailing culture wherein individuals seek the benefits of a society without active participation in it. Affirming this point, he stated, “There has been a rise of clientelism; people think it's at the shop behind the counter and they will be given things freely, and they are expecting instead of giving a sense of direction to leaders. There is no army behind saying which direction we are going, who is going to craft the way forward when there are followers who are leaders and leaders who are followers – that chain has been broken, and people are just clients who want to be given grants. There is a lack of a productive economy and participation,” he said.

Elaborating on the essence of effective leadership, Qoboshiyane noted that leadership starts with the individual. “If you can't lead yourself, you can't lead us. If you don't have confidence in yourself, you can't inspire confidence in others and if you don't have respect, you can't attract respect. Leaders must be possessed by a vision; there is nothing as painful as being led by someone with no vision,” he said. Qoboshiyane’s address was followed by a panel discussion from a panel including  Political Analyst Dr Ongama Mtimka and Journalists for Human Rights’ Head of Office Dr Siyabulela Mandela.

In a thought-provoking departure from the keynote's emphasis on education, Dr Mandela contended: “The most unfortunate thing is that throughout the different generations, as much as we acquire as many degrees as we possibly can, education has proven not to be the equaliser of our condition as this generation. Hence, the resolution that decolonisation of the education system should be one of the things we tackle as young people. I can go to an institution of higher learning and come back with a degree that will not respond to the challenges faced by the people in my hometown because the material we are subjected to as young people is not written by people who understand the material conditions of our people.”

Addressing the urgency of this generation's role within the societal framework, Dr Mtika said: “Idolo phezulu (protests) changes for this generation to iminwe kwi keyboard (education). Historically, the instrument that was necessary to bring pressure to the system was idolo phezulu. In your time, we do not want that; we want fingers on the keyboard where you are devoting yourself to fulfilling the tasks that parents are paying for while you are in an institution of higher learning,” he said, addressing the students.

Dr Mtimka encouraged the youth to be agents of change and not enable any corruption around them. “We should no longer look at an imimpi (informer) like our parents did; Babita Deokaran is a hero during our time. If you go and work in a department where there is corruption, be a whistle-blower because your country needs you to be,” he urged students.

Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, concluded the evening’s discussions by saying that South Africa needs leaders who are willing to put others first, as exemplified by former President Nelson Mandela. He reflected on how the current crop of leader have given way to moral depravity, untrammelled greed, rampant corruption, venality, deceit, profligacy, and duplicity. “We have elevated to positions of leadership and responsibility some people of questionable moral and ethical character. People who have no sense of the difference between right and wrong, just and unjust, fair and unfair, ethical and unethical occupy positions of power and influence. The electorate must exercise their power to elect people who will have the heart to change this,” he said.

Day 3 of the SRC Leadership Week, which will be held tonight, will be dedicated to honouring women in leadership. Speakers will include former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng and SRC President Avuxeni Tyala.