As the world celebrates International HR Day, it’s time to reflect on a powerful, yet often overlooked, aspect of effective leadership – Ubuntu. This South African philosophy of interconnectedness, compassion, and community offers a compelling blueprint for how businesses can create inclusive and resilient workplaces in an era increasingly focused on ‘people leadership’.
With a workforce dominated by technical and production-driven industries, South Africa faces a unique leadership dilemma: highly skilled engineers, artisans, and specialists are frequently promoted into management roles without any formal training in people leadership.
“Just because someone can operate a machine or run a production line doesn’t mean they know how to lead a team. That’s where HR – and training – must step in,” says Noreen MacPherson, Associate and Learning & Development Specialist at Maccauvlei Learning Academy.
Maccauvlei Learning Academy is calling on South African businesses to rethink their approach to leadership – preparing their people through HR-centred education grounded in Ubuntu.
But what does Ubuntu leadership actually look like?
Ubuntu: A Uniquely African Leadership Advantage
In a world increasingly driven by AI, automation, and performance metrics, Ubuntu – a Southern African philosophy that emphasises humanity, interconnectedness, and mutual respect – offers a powerful, distinctly local antidote to dehumanised leadership.
“Ubuntu teaches us that people are not just a factor of production – they’re dynamic, emotional, thinking beings,” says MacPherson. “Leading with Ubuntu means recognising the value of empathy, listening, trust, and emotional intelligence in management. These are not ‘soft’ skills – they are essential skills.”
According to a 2023 World Economic Forum report, emotional intelligence, leadership, and social influence are among the top 10 skills needed for the future of work.[1] Yet in many South African organisations, HR professionals spend up to 90% of their time in front of a computer managing systems and data – often sidelining the very ‘human’ side of human resources.
This disconnect is not unique to South Africa, but the consequences are acutely felt in our high-stakes, production-oriented sectors. “When someone in a mining or manufacturing environment gets promoted into a line manager role, they are expected to lead people without ever having been taught how,” Macpherson adds. “HR has a critical role to play – not just in policy or payroll, but in enabling managers to build relationships and lead with confidence.”
From Pencil Pushers to People Partners
Maccauvlei’s leadership and HR courses aim to reframe what it means to be a successful manager in the South African context. Whether you choose a management or HR course, every qualification integrates emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, communication, and self-awareness – key tools to lead both self and others.
Macpherson explains: “At Maccauvlei, we focus on two critical streams – leading self and leading others. You cannot manage a team effectively if you don’t understand your own triggers, biases, and emotional responses. That’s the foundation of people leadership.”
The Academy’s learning programmes, many of which are SETA- and QCTO-accredited, are specifically designed to equip managers with the skills they didn’t learn in engineering school or on the factory floor.
“In a society that still sometimes sees HR as the ‘warm and fuzzy’ department, we’re here to show that people leadership is actually a high-impact, strategic function,” says Macpherson. “Without it, even the best-laid business plans will fail, because it’s people who drive performance, not machines.”
HR as a Human Connection, Not a Helpdesk
In an era where many HR functions are being outsourced or automated, Maccauvlei is advocating for a renewed focus on human connection.
“Too many companies have turned HR into a robot on the other side of a call centre. But when an employee has a problem, they don’t want a dropdown menu – they want someone to listen, empathise, and help,” says Macpherson. “That’s Ubuntu. That’s leadership.”
A Call to Action for South African Employers
Failing to equip leaders with Ubuntu-based skills – like empathy, emotional intelligence, and people-centred decision-making – poses a real danger to South African workplaces. In a country grappling with inequality, high unemployment, and a history of social division, leadership that lacks emotional and cultural intelligence can deepen workplace tensions, erode trust, and damage team cohesion. Without these critical human-centred skills, managers risk becoming mere enforcers of process rather than enablers of potential – undermining morale, performance, and ultimately, business sustainability in an already fragile economic environment.
As we observe International HR Day, Maccauvlei is urging South African employers – particularly in technically-oriented sectors – to invest in people leadership training that goes beyond the operational and embraces the human.
“Management is no longer just about KPIs and production schedules. It’s about relationships, culture, and connection,” says MacPherson. “South African businesses have a powerful cultural foundation in Ubuntu. Now it’s time to turn that into a competitive advantage.”
ENDS
For More Information
For more information about the initiative or to schedule an interview with Noreen MacPherson, please contact:
Amy Green – PR Consultant for Maccauvlei Learning Academy
Email: amy@phakamanigroup.com
Phone: 082 860 6217
About Maccauvlei Learning Academy
At Maccauvlei Learning Academy, we take immense pride in being the ultimate skills development provider, dedicated to shaping a brighter future through education, skills development, and empowering human capital.
With over 60 years’ experience in the skills development sector, Maccauvlei is the preferred provider to many companies in South Africa and in the African region.
Maccauvlei offers an extensive portfolio of courses covering a wide range of business disciplines, including Management and Leadership, Human Resource Management, Life and Functional Skills, Trainer Development and Assessments.
[1] https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2023/
