OPINIONISTA: SA as a possible Third Republic — we can learn from countries like France

I was recently part of a delegation from South African higher education to France that included eight vice-chancellors, the CEO of the National Research Foundation and representatives from more than 14 South African Universities.Leadership Lessons from the Books I have Read

As I reflected on the French Revolution that led to the First Republic, I have been greatly interested to learn what lessons we can draw from that revolution. One outcome of the French Revolution is that it standardised measurements and gave us kilogrammes, kilometres, litres, etc. A lesson I can draw from this is that we must be bold in tackling contemporary problems.

Reflecting on the French Revolution, Georg Büchner said, “Like Saturn, the revolution devours its own children.” South Africa is undergoing a political civil war that can derail progress. We are not sure how this political civil war will culminate. Some suspect it will usher in a genuinely multi-party democracy that will reduce the excesses of corruption and enrich our democracy.

Another lesson from this period of French history is that as we rethink the traditional concept of leadership and its place in a modern democratic state, we should appreciate that this will require patience, and we will make mistakes.

The lesson for South Africa from this is that we need scholars of great scholarship that advance social, economic, political and technological progress. Progress requires engineers and scientists to chart a route to economic development and secure, reliable energy and water. We must populate all spheres of influence with thinkers, doers, technologists and scientists. Africa’s underdevelopment can partly be explained by a lack of scientists, engineers and scholars in powerful positions.

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