Exploring ethical leadership in the context of the “new dawn/thuma mina” in a TVET college in Kwazulu-natal

Abstract

This study which employed a qualitative and interpretivist approaches, sought to explore the conceptualisations and enactment of ethical leadership by campus managers and lecturers in a TVET college in the context of the “New Dawn/Thuma Mina” in KwaZulu- Natal. A case study was conducted with five campus managers and fifteen lecturers who were conveniently sampled. The study was underpinned by the following theories: Shapiro and Stefkovich`s Multiple Ethical Paradigm; Khoza’s Attuned Leadership (African Humanism or Ubuntu); Lerner and Tetlock`s Accountability Theory and Buijze`s Transparency theory. Semi-structured interviews were employed to generate data and document reviews were used to triangulate the data generated from interviews which was all thematically analysed. The findings revealed that campus managers and lecturers had a clear understating of ethics and ethical leadership to include care, empathy, honesty, integrity, and exemplary conduct, however, these were not adequately enacted on campuses. Findings also revealed that unethical practices were still very high despite policies afforded to the staff. Absenteeism and abuse of the sick leave system; sex-for- marks and corruption were amongst malpractices identified as unethical that hindered ethical leadership practices at the researched campuses. While participants understood the need to adopt ethical behaviour by following certain policies such as the SACE Code of Professional Ethics and Code of Conduct, this was not easy to implement. A code of ethics, ethics training and workshops on the Code of Conduct and SACE were recommended as strategies to enforce the ethical behaviour of all staff in the researched college. This study further recommends the rigorous training and induction of all students on Policy Frameworks on Gender-Based Violence in the TVET college. It further recommends implementing consequence management using relevant policies to enforce ethical practices and discipline in the college. Finally, the HR department should speed up the disciplinary processes and close all possible loopholes when cases are opened against staff members.