When I read Bheki Ka Mncube's comment piece, entitled "Public participation the key" (Echo, April 11), I realised that there is still a lot we need to do to strengthen our fledgling democracy as we face the challenges of learning about individuals' roles in maintaining good democratic rule.

Democracy does not just mean voting for your favourite political party or leader, it also means taking responsibility to ensure that the democratic rule is just and effective.

Apart from general members of the public, there are individuals who are responsible for building a good democracy through the positions they occupy.

At present, our country is faced with what one could call a leadership crises. From the low levels of leadership right up to the top echelons there is rampant fraud and corruption which, if left unchecked, will retard the growth of our democracy.

Public office is a position of responsibility which needs to be occupied by individuals who are mentally and morally fit to do so, because the work that is done here has a direct bearing on the lives of the millions of citizens which it serves.

Teachers, nurses, priests, councillors, chiefs and indunas are all leaders whose moral responsibility is to serve their communities without fail.

Corruption leads to instability. The leadership crises that we are experiencing is linked to many immoral and unlawful acts taking place in public office.

There are areas where bribery is required to obtain access to government officials or to have a public service rendered.

On a daily basis people bribe their way into positions and we end up having unqualified and incompetent people holding positions of power. This affects the day-to-day running of important affairs.

One does not need to undergo special training to realise that this impacts negatively on our democracy.

What this corruption does to the parties involved is that it strengthens immorality and corrupts them even further, thus wiping out the chances of having a healthy public service.

On the other hand, we have leaders who were once honest and dedicated but because of the great influence of negative factors around them they have lost their valour and given in.

We need to see public office bearers demonstrating vigilance despite all the problems and temptations that they meet every day.

Some people would argue that it is easy to say this if you are not directly involved in the situation. If you are inside, you can't cope with the pressures and threats coming from people who want to get in or who want to pave the way for their friends or relatives. A number of people have paid a price trying to be noble.

The only way to solve these problems is for the government to intervene.

A conducive environment for people to perform their duties without fear or temptation should be created.

Once efficient people are protected and given incentives to enhance their performance, fewer problems will be experienced.

Corrupt officials should be flushed out of the system to make way for honest and dedicated workers. This requires a very strong government, not one that imposes empty threats or does not stick to its ideals.

There is also a great need for leadership education both in the school curriculum and also to occupants of public office. The Batho Pele project should not be left to die, it should focus on both the public and the service providers with an aim of improving relations and confidence.

A stable economy that can comfortably provide for a large percentage of the population would drastically decrease corruption.

Once this terrible disease of corruption is out of the way we will see a strong society that attaches high morals to the correct performance of duties.

With acknowledgements to Muzi Zondi and The Natal Witness.