Why South Africans are losing faith in the ballot
By Dr Lincoln Cave, The Ethics Institute As the 4 November 2026 local government elections approach, South Africans face more than competing promises of service delivery. Rather, they confront a growing sense of distrust. Cases of…
The real lesson of the Madlanga Commission
By Jovita Matos Fazenda, The Ethics Institute The revelations emerging from the Madlanga Commission have once again shaken public confidence in South Africa's justice and policing institutions. Allegations of misconduct, corruption, abuse…
Public sector – Are we seeking policy solutions to people problems?
What do we do when the supply chain regulations are bypassed; when services aren’t delivered; when culprits are not held accountable; when corruption prevails? Generally, we write more laws, regulations, policies and procedures in the vain…
The Elephant Everyone Sees but No One Names
In an environment of economic pressure, governance scrutiny, reputational risk, and growing workplace instability, workplaces are increasingly discovering that their greatest threats are not hidden misconduct, but visible dysfunctions…
When HR Fails Ethical Culture Pays the Price
As South Africa continues to confront the fallout from corruption inquiries, governance failures, and public sector instability, a less visible but equally damaging issue is emerging: the breakdown of ethical people management inside…
Clean for the G20 Summit, dirty for the People? A test of our collective responsibility.
Across African countries, and maybe in other geographies I am less familiar with, in the lead-up to major international events, host cities are often subjected to a deep transformation process. Streets are cleaned, infrastructure is…
How do they sleep at night?
South Africans have lost their sense of shame. These were the words spoken by Trevor Manuel, the former Minister of Finance, who retires as Chair of the Nedbank Board after the 2026 Nedbank AGM, during his keynote address in 2017 at the…
Young people are the real victims of corruption
Young people are paying the price for corruption in South Africa. The country’s recent events have been a clear depiction that young people can no longer deem the South African government as role models. Many would argue that this…
When Data Expires, Consumer Trust Does Too
Have you ever dropped out of an important call because your data bundle expired mid-conversation? Or realised the call was now coming out of your airtime because your voice bundle had run out? Or noticed that you still have an SMS bundle…
Mediocrity: the silent killer of society and organisations
Protests over water outages in Johannesburg and mounting political pressure on local government spotlight a nationwide crisis in basic service delivery, revealing how complacency, systemic neglect and weak accountability have normalised…
Firefighters Offer a Blueprint for Ethical Leadership
Firefighters Offer a Blueprint for Ethical Leadership During December 2025 and January 2026, the Western Cape was ravaged by multiple wildfires that, in some cases, burned for days on end. News reports carried image after image of…
Protecting truth in the face of fear
Every act of whistleblowing begins with a choice. A choice to stay silent or a choice to speak up. That decision rests on whether employees believe their organisation will protect them and not punish them. Effective reporting systems are…