Yes, SA has challenges, but we can fix them!

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, does not believe that South Africa is collapsing, despite its current political, economic and infrastructural problems. One reason for hope, he argues, lies in the compassion and patience of South Africans. He has seen it first-hand for 30 years.

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Do you think the country is falling apart? It is not. The reason I say this is due to the spirit of our people.

I’ve seen my team of South Africans go into a humanitarian crisis situation on many occasions, and observers have been in awe of their skills. Yet South Africans don’t believe in themselves!

Obviously, we must be realistic: our country does require serious intervention. However, I certainly don’t believe that South Africa is falling to pieces. Every civilization on earth has had its ups and downs. That’s just the way things work.

I have hope for the future and know everything will work out well. After all, this is the greatest country on earth.

Why do I say this? Let’s place South Africa in context. Right before the 1994 election, people were stockpiling food and keeping their passports close by. Some were getting ready to leave the country, because they were expecting violence and bloodshed.

The international media were waiting with baited breath for something critical to happen. Instead, the election turned out to be boring! Nothing happened, and we had a peaceful transition.

That single incident shows that South Africans, in general, are patient and humble people who truly believe in the spirit of and building together. This is something I’ve experienced at first hand for decades, even before starting Gift of the Givers.

 ORIGINS