Secretary, Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
PO Box 15
Cape Town 8000

Honourable Members of the Joint Committee,

I write to your Committee as the author of MOTHEMA: The Foundation Beyond Truth, a philosophical and policy-relevant exploration of African ethics, governance, and intergenerational responsibility.

This work speaks directly to the ethical responsibilities of public representatives. It argues that true ethical governance cannot be sustained merely through compliance with rules, but must be grounded in the foundational moral systems of African societies — what I refer to as Mothema.

I submit this message with three key requests:

1. That your Committee considers initiating a review of how ethical standards for Members of Parliament align with communal African values of stewardship, proportionality, and intergenerational responsibility.


2. That the Committee opens discussion on integrating moral frameworks derived from African customary law into ethics training and codes of conduct.


3. That Members be encouraged to reflect on the principles outlined in MOTHEMA, which include the operationalisation of public trust through reason, cultural coherence, and moral leadership.



I would be honoured to present to your Committee, share insights from the text, and support your ongoing work in fostering a more principled, rooted, and socially coherent model of public service ethics.

With respect and commitment to ethical governance,

Pinel Motswagole