Gift of the Givers founder urges South Africans to take responsibility for their country
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers, called on the country’s citizens to take responsibility for its future and not wait for a “saviour” during The Gathering event in Cape Town, South Africa. He said this in a conversation with Daily Maverick editor-in-chief Jillian Green, dedicated to the memory of journalist Estelle Ellis.
Shared responsibility
According to Sooliman, South Africa belongs to its citizens, not the government. He urged people to unite, setting aside party symbols, logos and titles, and stressed that the country’s problems should not be left for political or institutional “saviours” to solve.
Sooliman also said that over 34 years of working with the government, he has seen changes in the system. In his assessment, an increasing number of people within it are openly speaking about the need for change and seeking to implement it; in his view, such people need to be supported.
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Memory of Estelle Ellis
The conversation at The Gathering was dedicated to Estelle Ellis, an investigative journalist who died on August 5, 2026, at the age of 51. Sooliman said that she had contacted Gift of the Givers when humanitarian crises arose in the Eastern Cape province, including droughts, food shortages or fires.
According to him, Ellis carefully verified information before reporting a need for assistance. In particular, she drew the organization’s attention to the need for 5,000 wheelchairs in the province, after which Gift of the Givers launched a corresponding project.
Green stressed that Ellis told the stories of people who are rarely heard while preserving their dignity. Sooliman, for his part, called on the government not to oppose journalists, but to view them as allies and respond to the problems they uncover.
