Ubuntu as an African Philosophy for Improving Ethics in Public Administration

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Page: 501-505

Troy Silima¹, Hlengiwe Zulu², and Mutshidzi Silima³ (School of Development Studies, University of Mpumalanga, South Africa^1,2 and School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, University of Johannesburg. South Africa³)

The objective of the paper is to discuss Ubuntu as an African philosophy for improving ethics in public administration. Ubuntu was used by Africans as a way of life long ago before Western civilization and industrialization. The values emanating from Ubuntu influence the actions of people, politicians, officials businessmen, and women. The revival of Ubuntu is more desirable during this era in which Africa is faced with challenges of moral decay and erosion of values. Africans are no longer abiding by the Zulu phrase “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, the Sotho phrase ”Motho ke motho ka batho”, the Tsonga phrase “Munhu i munhu hi vanhu”’ and the Venda phrase “Muthu ndi muthu nga vhathu” meaning that “a person is a person because of others”. The paper will discuss Ubuntu philosophy in a panoramic view. It will cover aspects such as the importance of Ubuntu, Ubuntu as a moral theory, and Ubuntu as a basis for African institutions and communities and incorporating Ubuntu in the South African public sector. Various norms which are observed in the communities help in promoting morality are not left out in this paper. The paper came up with recommendations and a conclusion at the end. The paper employed a qualitative method of research to investigate the study, in its design it followed the critical approach, and thematic method in the analysis of data