South African musician The Kiffness has publicly labeled Gift of the Givers founder Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman a “radical Islamist.” This accusation follows Sooliman’s involvement in assisting 154 Palestinian refugees who arrived in South Africa on a chartered flight under controversial circumstances....Click to Read More >>➤
The aircraft landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, 13 November. It had originated from Gaza, transited through Israel, and made a stop in Kenya before its final destination. The passengers disembarked after a lengthy delay, with the humanitarian group providing immediate medical care, food, and temporary housing. The identity of the party that chartered the flight remains undisclosed.
Gift of the Givers Facilitates Refugee Disembarkation
Authorities confirmed on Friday that all 153 refugees had finally left the Global Airways aircraft. The passengers had been stranded on the grounded plane for over 12 hours due to a lack of required official departure stamps from Israeli authorities. After intense negotiations led primarily by Gift of the Givers, the Palestinians were permitted to enter South Africa.
Founder Imtiaz Sooliman stated that many of the individuals would now seek asylum in the country. He expressed gratitude to DIRCO Director-General Zane Dangor and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola for their roles in resolving the standoff. Sooliman framed their actions as consistent with South Africa’s pro-Palestinian foreign policy. He also criticized Israeli officials for their refusal to stamp the passports, which left the travelers in a legal limbo upon arrival.
The Kiffness Accuses Sooliman of Radicalism
The situation has sparked significant public debate, with The Kiffness using social media platform X to voice strong criticism. The Cape Town-based musician directly questioned Sooliman’s influence and actions.
“When someone tells you who they are, believe them! Imtiaz Sooliman of @GiftoftheGivers thinks he is above the law in South Africa, and @GovernmentZA allows it!” The Kiffness posted.
He shared a purported quote from Sooliman that read, “I don’t need any permission from anybody in the world to tell me what to do. I break the laws all the time. I follow Islamic law, and Islamic law overrides any other law.”
This is not the first time the artist has targeted the philanthropist. A year ago, he issued a similar warning, calling Sooliman a radical Islamist operating under the guise of a humanitarian. He described Gift of the Givers as a potential front for a “far more sinister agenda,” urging the public to be wary of “false prophets.” The ongoing dispute highlights the intense polarization surrounding the Palestinian cause and the actors involved in South Africa. ...Click to Read More >>➤
