Dr Imtiaz Sooliman: from Saturday squash to humanitarian example

When Dr Imtiaz Sooliman was called to the podium to be honoured with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (honoris causa), a rousing applause filled the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Sarah Baartman Hall. Dr Sooliman, one of South Africa’s most distinguished humanitarian leaders and the founder of Gift of the Givers, acknowledged the applause with a wave and stood with a composed pose as his citation was read out on 30 March 2026.

His humility belied the stature of a man with countless accolades. A recipient of some of the country’s highest honours, including the Order of the Baobab (Silver) and the President’s Order of the Star of South Africa; as well as the internationally conferred Global Citizen Award, Sooliman founded and leads the largest disaster-response organisation of African origin on the continent.

“I see myself as an ordinary human being who comes from humble beginnings. I hail from Potchefstroom in the North West. I finished my high school in Durban with hopes of getting into medical school. I did end up getting into medical school. Going to Durban was a challenge for me at first,” said Sooliman in an interview with UCT News. However, due to Durban’s cultural diversity, he ended up having fun.

Playing soccer on Friday evenings and squash on Saturdays, he found community activism. He started delivering lectures during Friday prayer and would give a summary translation in English of what the Quran said. He moved to Pietermaritzburg to set up a general practice after qualifying as a doctor at the then University of Natal Medical School in 1984.

“Forming Gift of the Givers was a continuation of how my parents lived.”

Then in 1992, his life took a turn that would see him demonstrate an unwavering commitment to human dignity, compassion and service to others over three decades. Through his leadership, the landscape of humanitarian aid has been reshaped locally and globally, with the work of Gift of the Givers touching millions of lives across 47 countries. It all came after receiving a message from his spiritual leader (Sufi Sheikh Muhammed Saffer Effendi al Jerrahi) in Istanbul, Turkey, who led him to a new vision for his life’s work.

“Forming Gift of the Givers was a continuation of how my parents lived: my mother started an employment bureau. My father and grandfather ran a shop and I used to help them during weekdays after school and during weekends. My mother said, ‘The most important thing you can do is give dignity to people; the best thing you can do is find them a job’ – and so she started finding people jobs,” said Sooliman.

In South Africa, Gift of the Givers has become synonymous with integrity, reliability and impact. Communities, government and international partners have come to regard the organisation, and its founder, as a trusted and credible presence in times of crisis.

If there’s a flood, they are there. If there’s a community in distress following a devastating fire, they are there. If a community hospital is in short supply of medical equipment, you will find Gift of the Givers at the scene. Their teams were also dispatched when a fire ripped through UCT in April 2021.

“We keep expanding according to the need we see and how our donors can assist … our work is world class. We don’t compromise; we do the best we can all the time.” In addition to his humanitarian work, Sooliman is also a respected public intellectual. His keynote addresses and public engagements have helped shape thinking on corporate responsibility, philanthropy, professional ethics and active citizenship.

Some of the original reasons for the organisation’s founding still persist today. Given the way they apply their expertise in challenging situations, how does Sooliman cope? “I train my team in emotional distancing. My wife always says that I show no emotion and nothing bothers me. I’ve learned that you can feel sorry and show empathy but do not get attached to people and situations.

“Faith, of course, is an important aspect because you can get killed anywhere. My team encourages and supports one another.”

A powerful example

Sooliman’s life and work offer a powerful example to students, scholars and practitioners that profound societal impact is possible when knowledge, compassion and courage intersect.

“I remember my teacher, who said, ‘My son, whatever you do is done through you and not by you’ and so I don’t take any credit for what I do. The things we do are often not humanly possible. To me it’s a recognition of what my team does. This internationally recognised institution is telling me that they appreciate my skills, commitment and the team. By doing so, they encourage other people to do something similar. If that happens, that’s important to me.”