Integrity leadership

Abstract

According to the World Bank (1994:12), good governance is “epitomized by predictable, open and enlightened policy making; a bureaucracy imbued with a professional ethos; an executive arm of government accountable for its actions; and a strong civil society participating in public affairs; and all behaving under the rule of law”. Good governance requires strong leadership and an ethos of integrity. In the South African public sector, there is currently a serious shortage of leadership with integrity. Great leaders model integrity by being honest and by doing what is right, irrespective of the circumstances. The concept is used as a term indicative of virtue. Integrity emanates from the Latin word “integer”, a mathematical term referring to whole numbers. Integrity thus means something that is truly holistic, complete. Leading with integrity implies a combination of the two words: leading completely. This article examines the principles of good governance and seeks synergy between good governance and leadership. It describes leadership with integrity as a key to combatting the nature and extent of corruption in the South African public sector.