The College of Law and Management Studies Public Relations Unit hosted a book launch of Graduate School of Business and Leadership’s PhD in Leadership Studies graduate Dr Thisha Peter Zakwe’s book titled: Service Delivery – How Ordinary People Achieve Extraordinary Results .
Zakwe is an avid scholar and author who holds another PhD in Geography. The book, which is a sequel to his first book: Daring To Be Extraordinary, not only draws on his leadership expertise, but is also a self-reflective exercise on his life journey. The book was inspired by his PhD study titled: From Looking-Glass Self-Metaphor to Self-Reflective Practice: Self-study as Professional Development, supervised by the late Professor Kriben Pillay. It provides readers with popular leadership perceptions, with a keen focus on service delivery at municipal, district, province, and national levels. It brings to the forefront the five disciplines of effective service delivery, for example, core ideology, shared vision, core purpose, core values, and alignment.
‘My book portrays “a larger drama than ourselves” – revelation of the mystery and miracle. For example, a gardener can become a teacher, then progress to principal, and ultimately, circuit manager. Or that a son of a domestic worker can become a PhD graduate in Geography and further graduate with a PhD in Leadership and furthermore, that a rural boy raised by their grandmother and grandfather can become an author of two ground-breaking books,’ said Zakwe.
While the almost prophetic symbolism behind his name (Thisha, translated to teacher in isiZulu) and his passion for education led him to the education sector where he worked for the Department of Education for 39 years, the fulfillment of his vocation was not without challenges. These hurdles, said Zakwe, included his line manager making death threats against him because he held a doctorate and having to go through many legal processes to challenge this form of unethical leadership as well as keep his job. In 2014, Zakwe would be required to battle health issues after being diagnosed with diabetes. Throughout this period however, he never wavered from setting a good example for his three children.
‘The book captures “self-discovery” as a tool to discover our common ground for common aspirations in terms of our “true/class consciousness – Conscientisation”. That is to say, all humankind is fully capable to achieve extraordinary things provided they demonstrate a sense of commitment, rigorous discipline, and resilience,’ added Zakwe.
The launch was facilitated by Graduate School of Business and Leadership Studies academic, Professor Mihalis Chasomeris, and attended by South African entertainment figures such as his son, Zakwe who is a rapper; Ukhozi FM DJ, Mroza Buthelezi; and actor, Bhekisizwe Mahlawe who is famous for his onscreen character, Calvin Gumede on e.tv’s Durban Gen, and Prince on SABC1’s Uzalo.
In his address – delivered on behalf of the College Dean of Research – School of Management, IT and Governance academic Professor Pfano Mashau said Dr Zakwe is an inspiration to postgraduate students who should also aim to share their research with the world.
‘It is inspiring to read that Dr Zakwe came from humble beginnings to where he is achieving extraordinary results such as achieving two doctorates and writing books from his doctoral research. I hope that other students can learn from him and not only produce research that stays on library shelves, but convert research that is published works that touch and transforms people’s lives.’
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Andile Ndlovu