Moral principles or a single set of behaviors are not always sufficient to constitute ethical behavior. What is morally right and wrong, as well as good and bad, are the subjects of ethics. Unlike other fields of study, such as the sciences, ethics is not a topic of factual knowledge. The focus is on identifying the characteristics of normative theories and using these sets of rules to solve real-world moral issues. For example, it is commonly accepted that it is wrong to kill someone else, that it is good to return a lost wallet, that it is bad to litter, and so on.
Dr Sigqibo Biggz Mfuywa
During this year’s book launch in Sandton, I attended the second instalment of Prof. Wiseman Nkuhlu’s book, “A Life of Purpose”. This book chronicles more than 60 years in the extraordinary life of a man who accomplished numerous firsts, particularly being the first African Chartered Accountant in South Africa. It further narrates how he was influential in business, philanthropy, development, academics, and the accounting discipline. While discussing his manuscript, I couldn’t stop wondering: Where are we going wrong as black professionals, and why can’t we learn from titans like Prof. Nkuhlu and others? Ethically attuned leadership is desperately needed in this nation.
The Auditor-General, Tsakane Maluleke, was one of the main presenters at this event. In her oration she was at pains in an effort to explain the alignment that should exist between ethics and the auditing profession. She further postulates that it goes without saying that accountants and auditors should have strong moral and ethical principles. The Zondo commission provides evidence that the profession has not been immune to the broader issues of declining ethics in our society broadly. Seeing how susceptible black professionals both in private and public sector are to fraud was worrisome.
I also ask myself this question, are black professionals victimised in both corporate and government or they are gullible to malfeasance? This question is based on the fact that top and senior management frequently resigns for a variety of reasons, and that some organisations have become accustomed to black leaders not serving out their tenure. As black professionals, none of us can keep quiet and act as though nothing is wrong; instead, we must speak out against victimisation when it rears its ugly head and adopt a protectionist stance. This does not, however, imply that the rotten potatoes should be let go without accounting for their misdeeds. We must develop professionals who are motivated to serve the nation and who are rooted in moral principles.
I further ask myself: is the core issue a lack of ethics and values among black professionals, or is it that all individuals are driven by the desire to secure a larger share of the benefits and privileges associated with their roles? In some instances, the lack of ethics and morality may not lie with the professionals themselves, but rather with the organizations they serve.
Some employers intentionally hire individuals to perpetuate unethical and immoral practices, often taking steps to protect such conduct, such as requiring employees to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements to shield the organization’s internal wrongdoing. Therefore, an examination of this issue from a singular perspective fails to account for the role that the organizations themselves play in fostering and perpetuating unethical practices.
It has become extremely important to couple academic qualifications with ethical astuteness, and we must be intentional about this. The developmental goals of South Africa will remain a stillborn if professionals who ought to deliver them are suffering from ethical bankruptcy. This training ought to be applicable to all sectors, not only the government. I’m also inclined to argue that ethics ought to be ingrained throughout higher education in order to guarantee that all graduates have the knowledge they need. Ethics on their own are grounded on some theoretical underpinnings, hence I argue that professionals must undergo some form of training.
You will be able to provide compelling arguments and explanations for your choices or interpretations of events when you integrate particular and pertinent experiential evidence with solid academic proof. In order to maintain some measure of accountability, professionals must be compelled to join a professional bodies e.g. a body like the Engineering Council of South Africa, Legal Practice Council, South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Regretfully, villains will continue to thrive as long as there are people on the planet who lack the moral fortitude to oppose them. Leaders with far greater moral character than what is being shown here today are what we need.
Dr Sigqibo Biggz Mfuywa is a land reform practitioner. He writes in his personal capacity.