In working to end violence against women and children, we need to ensure that men are centrally involved. Men need to organise themselves in a sustained campaign against gender-based violence.
Cyril RamaphosaRead
There are times when leadership needs to take a bold move forward. And there are times when the leadership needs to act on the basis of what the grass roots say. You need to have your political thermometer constantly in the political waters to know when to give leadership in what way.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Effective leadership requires bravery and awareness of the people's needs.
Cyril Ramaphosa's quote highlights the dual nature of leadership—sometimes it demands bold actions and visionary decisions, while at other times, it necessitates listening to and reflecting the sentiments of the grassroots. A successful leader must navigate these dynamics skillfully, adapting their approach based on the political climate and the voices of the people they represent.
Themes
LeadershipBoldnessGrassrootsPoliticsAwareness
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting while discussing how to approach a new project, a leader might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of balancing bold decisions with team input.
More from Cyril Ramaphosa
All quotes →We need to mobilise our structures and our supporters to oppose state capture and corruption in whatever form it takes.
Cyril RamaphosaRead
Violence against women and children resembles an epidemic. It has spread through society, sparing no social group or class.
Cyril RamaphosaRead
No man is born believing that he has dominion over women. Instead, this view is handed down from generation to generation and amplified through social custom, culture, and popular media.
Cyril RamaphosaRead
We must listen to the concerns of our people without dismissing them. When people see something wrong, there is something wrong. When our people see corruption, it means there is corruption. When our people see that their resources are being stolen by certain people, it means this is happening, and we should listen.
Cyril RamaphosaRead
Land is a very broad as well as a complex issue, and it has to be handled very delicately because around land, there is quite a lot of emotion.
Cyril RamaphosaRead
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