An Organisational Ubuntu Leadership Framework for Effective Change Management During Crises in the South African Public Sector

This article investigates the role of Ubuntu leadership in guiding effective change management during crises in the South African public sector. Using a systematic literature review of 25 peer-reviewed studies published between 2003 and 2025, the article synthesises evidence on Ubuntu's relevance as both a normative philosophy and a practical leadership paradigm. Five key themes emerged: Ubuntu as an ethical anchor, a source of collective resilience, a driver of inclusive and legitimate change, a framework capable of operationalisation through hybrid models, and an approach constrained by institutional barriers. The findings demonstrate that Ubuntu enhances trust, resilience, and legitimacy during crisis leadership, while also highlighting limitations such as bureaucratic rigidity, political patronage, and the lack of large-scale empirical testing. The article contributes to African leadership scholarship and offers practical guidance for embedding Ubuntu in leadership training, policy design, and governance reforms to strengthen public sector resilience and trust.