Don’t know who to vote for? You’re not alone.
If only there was a party we could all trust, with a leader who is dedicated to serving the country and caring for our communities.
Well, there is.
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers.
For nearly 30 years, the humanitarian organisation has played a vital role in disaster relief, providing: temporary shelter; bedding and blankets; food and baby provisions; medical supplies, equipment and ambulances; emergency power supplies; and rehabilitation of homes, schools and medical facilities.
And not just at home but abroad too. The foundation has responded to the needs of millions of people affected by natural and man-made disasters including floods, famine, tsunamis, earthquakes and wars in over 40 countries.
Operationally, the organisation is an amazing example of what can happen when dedication meets service delivery.
Just this week, the Gift of the Givers reacted quickly to assist nearly 300 Kraaifontein residents who were left homeless following a devastating fire on Monday.
Within hours, the team was at the scene to provide hot meals, hygiene and baby care packs to the mense, most of whom had lost everything in the blaze.
They’re now working with disaster management to arrange temporary accommodation for the displaced.
God bless the Gift of the Givers.
As it happens, the very next day, Dr Sooliman was named the Social Justice Champion for 2021.
There can be no worthier recipient of this award. Congratulations.
Forever humble, Sooliman gave credit to his team.
“Yes, we do a lot of things and we do receive a lot of awards, but these last two years my credit goes to my team.
“They work Monday to Sunday, 365 days for the year.
“They haven’t taken breaks, they haven’t taken long weekends.
“They’re driven by one process – help the country,” he said.
It’s this kind of passion and principle that has prompted many to call for Sooliman to enter politics, and relieve the country from corruption, and crisis after crisis.
And wouldn’t he make a fine president?
For Sooliman, however, there is a calling far higher than the highest office in this land.
Asked earlier this year if he had political aspirations, he replied: “The call for me to be president has been coming through loud and clear throughout South Africa for quite some time now.
“The problem is that there’s clearly something wrong with the system. Why would the public want somebody else to be a president when there is already an existing president that has been democratically elected by the people?
“It means there is something wrong with the way the country is being run. People are not satisfied, and to me, it should be a wake-up call to government.
“I am not interested. I have a spiritual responsibility, a spiritual calling.”
Well said, but a great pity.
Meanwhile, considering the wonderful work done by Gift of the Givers, it is important that we all demand justice for Ameerodien Noordien.
The 19-year-old volunteer was gunned down in Hanover Park three years ago and two skollies are currently on trial for his murder in the Western Cape High Court.
It was heartening to see witnesses having the courage to take the stand and point out the killers.
We cannot allow those who cut down the good among us to go unpunished.