Activists, non-governmental organisations, academics and social formations have thrown their weight behind the City of Johannesburg’s efforts to establish its own Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) structure.
Nationally, the MRM was set up in 2002 as a broad partnership between the government, civil society and business. The aim was to facilitate the collective activism against the escalating moral decay or anti-social behaviour in society.
Participants at the recent virtual MRM consultative workshop agreed that Johannesburg was best placed to lead the moral revival.
Neo Chaka, the Programme Manager at MRM, said the increase in corruption, widening inequalities and broken families have necessitated the need to rebuild the morals than ever before.
“We need to start to look at the quality of our leadership. We’ve reached a point whereby institutions which used to be credible, but because of their leaders their ethics and credibility is questioned. We need to deal decisively with crime and corruption. Today, we are also dealing with the culture of materialism that is rampant in our communities,” said Chaka.
Chaka said the stakeholders needed to push harder to raise the issues such as the eradication of poverty and inequality. “This is because it is harder to convince someone who is hungry about the ethics and good morals,” said Chaka.
According to Chaka, the MRM is focusing, among others, on building and strengthening the family, developing and nurturing ethical leadership, combating crime and corruption, values education, riches and poverty, positive images in the media, gender transformation, focusing on youth and religion.
The Speaker of Council in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Nonceba Molwele, urged the stakeholders at the workshop to drive the proposed interim Joburg MRM structure.
“The MRM in Joburg was resuscitated in July this year. This is a consultative workshop with stakeholders, therefore the input of stakeholders is most welcome. It is our collective rededication to the revival of the spirit of ubuntu, the ideals of the Constitution and our common values. Ideally, we want all seven regions of the City being represented in the structure,” said Cllr Molwele.
Princess Nikiwe Bam from Afrikan Young Indigenous Leaders said, her organisation is supporting the intentions to form the Joburg MRM structure. “We would like to be a partner with MRM as well, since moral regeneration is key to restoring respect, humanity, indigenous knowledge and indigenous leaders also play a significant role.”
Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba said that all the efforts of moral regeneration should be focused on the family, because this is the foundation of the society with education playing a huge role.
