On Friday 1 November at 19h30, Redi Tlhabi discusses principled leadership in modern society with African Nobel Prize winners Archbishop Desmond Tutu and UN former Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Al Jazeera’s South 2 North.
Also in attendance is Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, past Prime Minister of Norway and Pakistani human rights activist Hina Jilani.
Filmed at the District Six Museum in Cape Town, the show is the first of two episodes that feature discussions with a group of independent global leaders working together for peace, justice and human rights, known as The Elders.
The initial group of The Elders was handpicked by former South African president and Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela in 2007.
Referring to Madiba, Tutu says: “Ethical leaders are not there for what they can get out of their position; they are there for the sake of the people.’ Tutu also comments on the state of South Africa, saying: “We have such a deep love for our country and we know that it has the capacity…
“Many good things have happened and we ought to acknowledge that but there are many other things that should have happened already by now. To think that we now are in a position where the gap between rich and poor is the widest in the world; it’s agonising.’
“To be bold; to have the courage of your convictions; and to think long-term, not short term or for political expedience; those are characteristics common to good leaders,’ Brundtland adds.
Brundtland reflects on the recent terrorist attack on Westgate Mall in Kenya and compares it to the 2011 massacre at a Norwegian summer camp, initially targeted at her: “It was a tragedy and every stone was turned to try and prevent similar incidences.’
Annan remembers the 1960s conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, saying: “A few years ago we called it “Africa’s World War,’ because about eight countries were involved.’
The show repeats on Saturday at 14h30, Sunday at 04h30 and Monday at 08h30.
For more info, visit www.aljazeera.com/programmes/south2north/.
For more information about The Elders, visit www.theElders.org.
