Not too long ago, my dad and I were speaking about South African politics, and the fact that Public Protector, Thuli Madonela was about to step down with an interdict served to her by the President who, at the time didn’t want her to read out the findings of the cases that she had taken on.
Who exactly is Thulisile Nomkhosi “Thuli” Madonsela, and why had she made such a difference in the lives of South African people? What was it that she had done that was so contrary to what her contemporaries were doing when given positions of power?
DEFINING THE ROLE OF PUBLIC PROTECTOR
Briefly, during her career, Madonsela has acquired two Law degrees, held various positions in the trade union movement during the mid to late 1980s and then moved to higher education in the 1990s. She served as a technical expert in the drafting of the South African Constitution, worked in the Department of Justice, after which she became a full-time member of the Law Reform Commission – which was the last position she held before a seven-year stint as South Africa’s third Public Protector (2009-2016).
She has raked in awards and accolades, some of them being Transparency International’s prestigious integrity Award in 2014, as well as being listed as one of TIME Magazine’s top 100 most influential people in the world.
“That’s just it,” Dad said, “Do you remember who was Public Protector before Thuli? Do you even remember whether the role had this much importance in the eyes of the public? She made it what it is.”
No one remembers her predecessors, and we are all holding thumbs, hoping that we remember her successor positivity (although, her successor is already trying to smear her office, which maybe isn’t the best start…
Now, Thuli may have seemed superhuman, but she isn’t and in reality, each one of us are able to be PUBLIC PROTECTORS that stand for integrity and truth in our spheres of influence.
But how do we do it? How can we make sure that each one of us, no matter where we are positioned, are champions of integrity in our workplace, amongst our friends, whilst pursuing our dreams?
HOW TO PURSUE AND STAND FOR INTEGRITY?
My interest was piqued by listening to the beginning of 1 Kings – where Solomon becomes king. Chapter 3 tells the story (AMP):
“Then Solomon said, “You have shown Your servant David my father great loving kindness, because he walked before You in faithfulness and righteousness and with uprightness of heart toward You; and You have kept for him this great loving kindness, in that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is today. So now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king in the place of David my father ; and as for me, I am but a little boy (in wisdom and experience); I do not know how to go out or come in (that is, how to conduct business as a king). Your servant is among Your people whom You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart (with which) to judge Your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?
Now it pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself a long life nor wealth, nor the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to recognize justice, behold I have done as you asked. I have given you a wise and discerning heart (mind), so that no one before you was your equal, nor shall anyone equal to arise after you… If you walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David did, then I will lengthen your days.’”
I found this passage of scripture, though I’ve read and listened to it so many times, so interesting, and incredibly apt in today’s climate of turmoil, where, all around the world, people are looking for leaders who are willing to speak out and stand for the truth.
SOME HELPFUL POINTS FOR YOU AND ME:
- Solomon saw that (and acknowledged) he was young and inexperienced in these ‘ruling’ matters and knew that he had to get guidance from someone wiser, and stronger than himself. Who better than to turn to the all-knowing, all-seeing, God?
- He didn’t trust himself to be able to discern between good and evil without God! And understood that only with God’s help was he going to be fair leader.
- Instead of just bringing a shopping list of things he wanted to God when he was given the chance, he asked for grace to guide the people that he was supposed to be leading.
Each one of us are already equipped to be public protectors/leaders in society – shining the light of truth where there is no light. However, without acknowledging that we need God, it is very often that the fight for our noble cause will go south. Change is not far away, but we might just have to adjust the prayers we pray.
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