Abstract
M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management)
In our dynamic South African society effective leadership is a huge challenge and an
important responsibility. It has to be realised that one of the realities that is increasingly
imposing itself on socio-politico-economic management all over the world, as
globalisation becomes dominant, is the need to manage diversity (Kauzya, 2002:2).
School leaders are faced with the challenge of transforming schools to comply with
rapidly changing policies to meet the needs of a changing society, and are in a key
position to develop a strategy for promoting and managing diversity (Naidu, Joubert,
Mestry, Mosoge & Ngcobo, 2008:2).
Managing diversity in the workplace is a worldwide phenomenon (Harris, Moran &
Moran, 2004:208). Unlike other culturally diverse countries such as the United States,
Britain, Canada and Australia which have paid attention to multicultural issues since the
1970s, South Africa is now only beginning to face the challenges brought about by a
multicultural approach (Grobler, Wärnich, Carrell, Elbert & Hatfield, 2006:79; Loock,
Grobler & Mestry, 2006:16). Managing diversity in South Africa is no easy responsibility
due to historical racial segregation and institutionalised separate development, which
resulted in a lack of understanding between people from different backgrounds and
cultures (Meier, 2007:655; Ngobese, 2004:19-20). If managed well, diversity provides
benefits that enhance organisational performance. When ignored or mismanaged,
diversity brings challenges and obstacles that can hinder the organisation‟s ability to
achieve organisational goals (Cox, 2001:4; Moodian, 2009:36).