Leading in Crisis: 7 Lessons from South African Response to Covid-19 Pandemic

We live in unprecedented times globally. The coming of Covid-19 virus has shaken nations, businesses and communities. Lives are being lost, health facilities are in great distress and there has been loss of hope for small businesses. The world has changed, how we communicate and relate has already shifted and indeed the way we do business is in rapid transition. During a crisis, people look to leaders to provide hope and direction. There is a craving for assurance concerning what the next step will be. This is where leadership comes to the true test of its resilience, creativity, stability and ability to provide solutions. 

South Africa was also hit by the deadly pandemic. The nation was hit by a double tragedy that combines Covid-19 and downgrading of Economic Status by International rating agencies. What is interesting to note is the way leadership rose to the occasion to fight this threat. There are lessons that we draw by watching leaders at work. President Cyril Ramaphosa (CR) keeps leading the country in the fight against Covid-19 right from the front, strongly supported by a knowledgeable and strong Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize (ZM). Behind these men are efforts by well-coordinated researchers, epedemiologists, technocrats and professionals who are hands-on and in the fore-front even to point of risking their own lives. People like Professor Salim Abdool Karim (SAK) and others have brought their “A game” to this fight. What has caused these individuals to go all out to help their nation? The answer is clear; they heeded the call from a leader who was not only decisive and clear but passionate about the critical next steps. 

What Leadership lessons can we draw from the South African response to the crisis? Well, here are a few thoughts and observations.

1. Transparency in Communication – there is nothing more calming to people than honest and open communication. South Africa has followed allowed its citizens to access information in real-time concerning infections, death and all the initiatives being done. The president has communicated bad news often in a manner that leaves people knowing the need for them to also play their part. Minister Zweli Mkhize is also doing a great job in communicating with the public. 
2. Strategic and Sensitive in Decision Making – A crisis will not correct itself. It relies on the ability of leaders to make decisions in a timely manner. There was initial doubt about leadership’s speed of response with some saying the president came to the party late. While there is an element of truth in that, the South African response has been the best to the level that many developed countries marvel at how leaders have been making robust decisions. 
3. Widespread in Consultation – it would be amiss to give all credit to President Cyril Ramaphosa without digging deeper to find an army of experts who inform the decision making. When the president addresses the nation, you can tell that he has consulted widely with people who know their work. One needs to read Professor Karim’s analytical presentations to tell that the President has the best advice for this mission. 
4. Deliberate in Caring – they say people do not care how much you know until the know how much you care. Leadership in South Africa have shown everyone how much the care about their people. Careful consideration was made on the vulnerable, small businesses, those needing social grants and food aid. The care even went as far as considering co-parenting scenarios and the plight of children. The pronouncement of lockdowns and extensions were understood by all when people realized that this is about their lives. People feel cared for. 
5. Determination in Failing Forward – There is no doubt that the South African Covid-19 response had its fair share of challenges and mistakes. Understandably, this virus came as a shock to leaders globally. Leadership is about agility, not being stopped by every mistake. When you lead and make changes to the way people live, you run the risk of accumulating criticism. The President and his team have had to quickly pick themselves whenever a mistake happened. They have kept the main goal in the forefront of daily action; and that is to save the lives of South Africans and those living within its borders.
6. Exemplary in Sacrifice – leadership is about foregoing your own comfort to preserve the lives of those you lead. Instead of waiting for donors to come through, the president and his cabinet alongside other senior officials as well as some opposition parties agreed to taking salary cuts for three months to add their contribution to the fund to fight the epidemic. Private organisations have also come through following this sacrificial example.
7. Purposeful in Team Assignment – In crisis, you need the efforts of every leader around you. It is therefore important to be proactive enough to select people of great capacity not based on how much you like them but based on their ability to deliver. In this crisis, the leadership of President Ramaphosa has a strong boost from Minister of Health and his amazing net of technocrats who are not “panic mechanic”. Other ministers are working hard on their end to ensure this human crisis is averted. Examples include minister of Transport, home Affairs, Social development and International relations to mention a few. 

The war against Covid-19 is far from over but it is encouraging to see this history rolling itself out in our own eyes in South Africa. It has not been an easy road and the journey ahead remains tougher for leaders and citizens in South Africa.  Everyone awaits anxiously to hear what will happen next. Another lockdown extension beyond April?  The impact on the economy is evident. At the time of writing this article, the Covid-19 the country is working cohesively on this pandemic. Confidence has been sown in the minds of South Africans that victory will come. The world has praised the South African response as one of the models for the world to learn from. A good start however needs a greater finish. Only time can adjudicate and deliver a verdict on the extent of validity of these thoughts.