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The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Zweli Mkhize has met with the leader of Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM), Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, last night to discuss possible collaboration to instil ethical leadership in local government.

Minister Mkhize expressed concerns over the killing of councillors and the violent nature of community protests which could be indicative of a declining morality and ethical leadership. The minister said local government could benefit from the work of MRM which seeks to mainstream shared common societal values such as respect and concern for all people; respect for human dignity and equality; upholding honesty, integrity and loyalty; and promotion of responsible freedom, the rule of law and democracy.

The MRM was launched in 2002 to drive ethical transformation and exert positive influence on the bahaviour of society in support of the Reconstruction and Development Programme agenda.

The MRM and CoGTA have agreed to explore ways that ethical leadership could be ingrained in local government leaders and integrated into the councillor induction programme as a social aspect of the Back to Basics programme which aims to promote good governance, financial proficiency, efficient service delivery and anti-corruption attitudes in local government.

“We need external perspective as CoGTA on how we can instil ethical leadership in local government,” said Minister Mkhize.
 
Minister Mkhize said CoGTA will engage the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) - which is already in a formalised partnership with MRM - to determine how CoGTA’s objectives could be integrated in the existing relationship.
 
Issued by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs