Professor Mias de Klerk shares insights into building a South Africa worth believing in for Moral Regeneration Month, and it starts within each of us.
South Africa (27 July 2025) – As we mark Moral Regeneration Month, we’re reminded that restoring the moral foundations of our society is actually possible. But the path to get there demands more than policy shifts or soundbites. It starts with each of us imagining, and then working toward, a South Africa that looks fundamentally different from what many of us experience today.
We need to confront the hard truth: corruption, self-interest, and apathy have become too deeply ingrained in too many corners of our society. Moral regeneration isn’t a vague ideal. It’s a call to action for business leaders, politicians, and ordinary citizens alike. It asks us to reawaken our sense of personal and collective responsibility. It insists that we go beyond what is legally required and consider what is ethically right, even when no one is watching.
Imagine a South Africa where the needs of the most marginalised are respected. Where people act not to see what they can get away with, but from a sense of service to the greater good. Where accountability is not negotiable, and responsibility is not only about what we’ve done, but also what we’ve failed to do.
It is not too much to envision a society where power and wealth do not shield wrongdoers from consequences. Where the highest-performing companies are the most ethical, not the most cunning. Where tenders are awarded to honest contractors, not to those who bribe and steal their way through the system.
Consider the possibility of a country where we can trust what we’re told, by leaders, institutions, and each other. Where transparent communication is the norm, not the exception. Where products deliver what they promise and services are built on integrity rather than empty guarantees.
Picture a future in which hard, honest work is rewarded. Where safety is not a privilege but a right – whether walking the trails of Table Mountain or doing business in the city. A place where every person, regardless of their background or income, is treated with dignity and their fundamental human rights are upheld.
It’s tempting to dismiss this vision as naïve or impossible, as just a dream. But history has shown us that dreams can be powerful agents of change. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream was once considered unreachable, too, yet it sparked a movement that changed the course of history.
This is not a call for blind optimism. I know the challenges are complex. South Africa’s volatile past, combined with today’s uncertain and ambiguous world, makes it harder to establish a shared moral compass. But that complexity is exactly why moral regeneration is so essential. We need to rediscover values that transcend history, culture, and ethnicity – values rooted in our shared humanity.
Moral regeneration won’t happen overnight. It will require ongoing commitment, honest introspection, and collective effort. We must reflect on our behaviours, acknowledge past failings and choose to act differently. We need to create space for real dialogue – the kind that pushes us toward ethical decisions, even when they’re uncomfortable.
Let us not reduce this month to a symbolic gesture or another missed opportunity. Let it be a starting point for honest change. If we dare to imagine a different South Africa – one where integrity, accountability, and compassion are non-negotiable – then we can begin to make it real.
Let us hold fast to the dream of a better South Africa. And more importantly, let that dream move us to action.
Mias de Klerk is a Professor in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour and Director at the Centre for Responsible Leadership Studies (Africa) at Stellenbosch Business School. He has shared pieces for Good Things Guy, unpacking some of the more complex societal ideals while always highlighting hope. You can read more here.
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