We must act ethically in everything we do
- Wits Alumni Relations
Tsakani Maluleke urges professionals to stem tide of corruption.
South Africa’s auditor general Tsakani Maluleke (PDM 2017 shared two things “very close to her heart: accountability and ethical leadership” during the March alumni webinar series on 24 March 2022.
Maluleke, who has been in her role since December 2020, is the first woman to hold this position in the audit institution’s 109-year history. Her background as a chartered accountant spans more than 20 years, with experience in both the private and public sectors, and in areas as diverse as auditing, consulting, corporate advisory, development finance, investment management and skills development agencies.
She was in discussion with Wits’ Head of School of Accountancy Professor Nirupa Padia (BCom 1986, BAcc 1996, MCom 2006) in a talk titled “The Professional’s Responsibility in Promoting Accountability and Ethical Leadership in a Democracy”.
She reminded the audience of about 240 listeners about the sacrifices that previous generations had made so that this generation could enjoy the fruits of democracy. “With freedom comes responsibility. Our democracy can only flourish and fulfil the noble aspirations and dreams of those it is meant to serve - citizens - when it is backed by ethical, accountable leaders,” she said.
She said the release of the Zondo Report was “sobering” and “should jolt us into action” and that corruption imposes steep costs on society because it holds back economic and human development.
“Any funds that are diverted into the pocket of an unintended recipient have a very real effect on the intended recipient who then goes without a school lunch, goes without access to a bed in a public hospital bed and goes without a much-needed social grant payment. With a shrinking public purse, increased dissatisfaction with state of governance in the country, with rising unemployment and poverty and greater demands on the state to meet the needs of citizens, the time has come for us to take greater responsibility for the mandate we have been given to serve.”
She said her office has been working on ways to professionalise the public service, which will be headed by “individuals who are ethical, competent and accountable”.
“There are three ways to deal with the challenges we face: Entrenching capable leadership, building capable institutions and placing a culture of consequence. I’d like to believe that we are capable of fixing things. We are capable of renewal and we’re capable of greatness. That we are capable of recognising our duty to act responsibly and ethically in everything we do. That we can leave behind us the era of self-enrichment and corruption and begin again to serve for the greater good. We can no longer be bystanders, the very future of our country is in our hands. This is the democracy that we inherited that so many sacrificed for us to benefit from,” she said.
The full talk can be viewed here.