Gore pointed to research by Ipsos MORI that showed, of 28 countries surveyed, South Africans are the most uninformed pessimists when it comes to what their future holds. He pointed to murder rates being high, yet also 50% down from 1994; GDP growth at a paltry 0.8%, yet also 2.5 times the size it was in 1994; and widespread homelessness, yet formal housing up by 131% since 1996.
The headmasters’ conference saw about 25 leaders from, often rival, public boys’ schools meeting to discuss their challenges and opportunities and to offer support to each other in a difficult educational and political climate. It seems being a headmaster might be lonelier than being a CEO. Before the conference started, I was asked to address 500 Queen’s College high school pupils at a 7.30am assembly. I shared a few sporting anecdotes to suggest that results on the sports field or in the boardroom alone are incomplete measures of success, and went on to highlight the value of being good people and following ethical and principled processes in the pursuit of excellence – avoiding short-term win-at-all-costs practices such the metaphorical sandpapering of cricket balls.
The energy and song of young African men reached a frenzied crescendo and then quietened to dead silence. I walked off a school stage, entranced, with my lower lip quivering. Moments later, when I found a quiet place to process the experience, the hydrant burst.