8.6 Managing Diversity
The South African government realises and acknowledges that the prominence of diversity issues in all spheres of
life necessitates the attention of the nation to focus on programmes that will create peaceful, stable and prosperous
societies in future.
The potential for destructive conflict and instability is high in situations where individuals from diverse situations and
backgrounds find themselves in shared space and mutual activity. Thus, diversity management is a key executive
competency within public and private sectors, as well as civil society. The ability to manage diversity goes beyond
the obvious physically pre-determined aspects of different racial and gender groupings and reflects other social,
political and economic constructs.
The Bill of Rights provides principles within which issues of diversity can be conceptualised. Emanating from this
policy directive, South Africa has developed the following tools to manage and promote the country’s diversity
towards nation-building and social cohesion; and these are:
· The 5 Values26 adopted by the National Conference on Ubuntu on August 2010 Tolerance
· Sports, Arts and Culture
· Culture of Dialogue
· Reconciliation
· Moral regeneration
· Education
· Personal Transformation
· Inclusivity
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Integrity and Honesty; Justice; Respect and Acceptance; Responsibility and Accountability; Industriousness;
Compassion and Care
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