Education is widely recognised as the cornerstone of social mobility and economic development. Yet, without strong ethical leadership, South Africa risks deepening inequality and undermining democratic progress. This urgent challenge lies at the heart of the Kagiso Trust Leadership Conference, taking place this September in partnership with the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Education.
Reimagining leadership for transformation
Marking its 40th anniversary in 2025, Kagiso Trust is spearheading conversations under the theme “Leading with integrity: Reimagining ethical educational leadership for transformative learning.” The online event will gather scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders to imagine new ways of leading that promote inclusive, sustainable, and resilient learning environments.
“Education is still grappling with the profound inequalities created by apartheid,” says Sizakele Mphatsoe, who leads Kagiso Trust’s education programme. “Ethical leadership is essential to navigate the complex process of transformation while ensuring that past injustices don’t perpetuate new forms of discrimination or corruption in resource allocation.”
Rooted in African values
A key focus of the conference is ensuring leadership reflects Africa’s context. “The leadership we need must be deeply rooted in communal values, indigenous knowledge systems and philosophies such as ubuntu,” Mphatsoe explains. By embracing African epistemologies and decolonial approaches, the conference seeks to inspire leadership that is not only ethical but authentically transformative.
Four critical focus areas
The conference, facilitated by Prof Kat Yassim, professor of education leadership at UJ, will highlight four core dimensions of ethical leadership in education:
- Equity, justice and inclusion – ensuring access, fairness, and dignity for all learners.
- Sustainability and stewardship – embedding environmental responsibility and green practices in education.
- Community engagement and indigenous knowledge – fostering participatory leadership that values parents, communities, and traditional wisdom.
- Digital ethics in the AI era – addressing privacy, equity, and responsible integration of technology.
Why it matters now
“The stakes are high,” warns Mphatsoe. “With systemic inequality, language and cultural complexities, and a crisis in quality and standards, ethical leadership has never been more critical.”
This conference aims to enlighten, inspire, and equip leaders to steer education systems with integrity. It will run online via Zoom from 2pm to 4pm on Wednesday, 10 September, and Thursday, 11 September. Attendance is free.
