Servant leadership : a required leadership model for efficient and effective service delivery in a democratic South Africa

Abstract

This article describes servant leadership and its value, especially in the quest to improve service delivery in our fledg-ling democracy. It argues that the country needs servant leaders who are guided by the following seven principles, which pro¬pose that a leader should (1) demonstrate agape love, (2) act with humility, (3) be altruistic, (4) be a visionary for their followers, (5) be trusting, (6) empower their followers and (7) serve. It further argues that Black Theology, with its demand for active participation in the liberation of the oppressed, and the ubuntu philosophy, with its central values of solidarity, interdependence and especially love, can inspire and facilitate the adoption and application of these principles by political leaders to provide efficient and effective service delivery. The article concludes by recommending collaboration between Black Theology and the ubuntu philosophy in order to inspire servant leadership to achieve efficient and effective service delivery that would ensure a better life for all. It also recommends collaboration between various stakeholders to ensure practical service delivery.