Respect and honesty guiding principles for WISA CEO Lester Goldman

ESG Global asked Dr Lester Goldman, CEO of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA), three clever questions on personal ethics, ethical culture at municipal level and misconduct of WISA members.

The King V Code on Corporate Governance for South Africa was published on 31 October 2025. Dr Lester Goldman, CEO of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) believes the Code is as relevant as ever and – given the country’s ongoing water crisis – the text should be taken to heart by every entity involved in water services management.

ESG Global asked Lester three clever questions on personal ethics, ethical culture at municipal level and misconduct of WISA members.

What is the one big ethical lesson you learned early in your career that still stays with you today?
Treat others with respect and honesty, as you would want to be treated yourself.

I believe this upholds the below principles:

Universal foundation: Respect and honesty are moral values that transcend culture, religion, and profession. They form the bedrock of ethical living.
Guides decisions: When faced with dilemmas, asking ‘would I want this done to me?’ provides clarity.
Builds trust: Honesty and respect strengthen relationships — whether personal, professional, or civic.
Prevents harm: Acting with empathy reduces exploitation, discrimination and injustice.

King V requires a strong ethical culture at all levels. What key change should be happening at municipal level to ensure robust governance practices are followed?
At the municipal level, the single most important change to ensure robust governance practices under King V is the institutionalisation of transparent, accountable decision-making through integrated ethics and compliance frameworks. From technical, through procurement, financial and reporting systems.

How many members has WISA struck from its register over the past five years as a result of misconduct? Of these, what percentage have been penalised or terminated by the employing municipality or organisation?
Regulation 3630 has just been introduced from 1 July 2025.We have not struck off any members yet, but certainly we will act accordingly and fairly to uphold ethics and protect the professionals and public alike.