Finding a moral compass for South Africa: Where are we? Where could we go?

pdf isbn

978-1-77995-271-4

e-isbn

978-1-77995-270-7

isbn

978-1-77995-269-1

doi

doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2022.BK395

pages

263

aosis scholarly domain

Theological and Religious Studies

Finding a moral compass for South Africa: Where are we? Where could we go? is an open-access book published by AOSIS Scholarly Books.

The research question of this book reads: Can South Africans, amidst all the contemporary distrust in political leadership and moral decay, find a moral compass that could lead them to a humane society of mutual trust, respect for each other, a flourishing life and a bright future for future generations? This book presents new perspectives on the psychopathology created by colonisation, the failures of the post-1994 dispensation regarding reconciliation, transformation, justice, distorted family life, violence, unity in diversity, as well as moral leadership and agency and indifference to a future of hope. It proposes a new moral compass that can lead South Africa out of the abyss.

This book is timely and penetrating. Vorster ploughs new ground in researching a moral compass for contemporary South Africa, from colonialism and apartheid to the current democratic dispensation. He writes clearly, carefully and helpfully about the timely topic of how theology can become a public voice, engaging structural issues where human dignity is downtrodden by those in positions of influence. Constitutionalism and populism are at war, disregarding liberation struggles principles and the desired goals of the fighters. Vorster investigates current moral flaws in politics, economics and broader societal culture from the colonial and apartheid eras. The escalating moral decay exhibited by corruption in higher echelons of society, breakdown of family values, deviation from humanness and visionless leadership continues to cripple society’s moral fibre. Racism embedded in colonial and apartheid ideologies can be combatted through reconciliation, education and patriotism as per the dictates of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Diversity should be used for unity rather than division. Religious freedom and multilingualism should be the seedbed in which moral ethics can be planted and flourish. Moral intervention should be based on leadership as stewardship and accountability, as well as being meritorious and exemplary for nation-building.

Dr Kelebogile Thomas Resane, Department of Historical and Constructive Theology,

Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

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