Servicing the Community Debt

The book asserts that the most realistic way for South Africa to successfully free itself

from the legacies of apartheid is to meet two fundamental conditions: under-privileged

communities must meaningfully embrace learning and workplaces must be turned

into places of optimal value-creation. It also argues that a critical ingredient needed to

accomplish this is a new spirit of leadership championed by communities.

The author cautions that South Africa should follow a courageous path of making what

works to work, instead of allowing itself to be overwhelmed by the negative power of what

is wrong. He also points out that while corruption and incompetence are real and need

decisive action, unbridled self-interest and hubris in various forms are also very serious

threats which, although more difficult to remedy, require both competent leadership and

effective strategies to bring under control.

The book calls for a courageous new age of knowledge consciousness where ignorance

is replaced by enlightenment, facilitated by leaders who do not just inspire momentary

excitement in people, but who can practically educate people to embrace learning and

practice real patriotism on a sustainable basis. It advocates a three-phase human capital

development strategy based on the principles of consciousness, responsibility and

competence, which can assist people to achieve significance in their lives.