Imtiaz Sooliman – GNU a government of selective unity Imitiaz Sooliman
AI: Summary ©
The speakers discuss the importance of finding optimism and working together to solve problems in South African society, including challenges faced by the country and the need for people to overcome fear and wait for the right solution. They also touch on high profile figures such as Michelle, a representative of the World Health Organization, and the importance of unity and avoiding mistakes in government. They emphasize the need for foreign powers to stop the spread of the movement and avoid mistakes, and emphasize the importance of finding optimism and working together to solve problems.
AI: Summary ©
And someone who's integral to the South African story in the work
that they do, you see them at the site of tragedy. You see them at
the site of suffering in our country. And that is gift of the
givers. And founder, Imtiaz Suleiman joins me today. Imtiaz,
you are one of the people that government thought. We have to
invite you. You have to be here. You have to be part of this
moment. And I think it is in appreciation for the role that you
and your organization and your teams across the country play in
nation building. How does it feel to be here on this morning? It
feels fantastic. Any good event that unites the country, that
brings people together, that brings hope, that brings
positivity, is great for our country. People from diverse
political backgrounds, diverse cultures, are here today and all
today. It's about building relationships, about working
together, finding each other, even though we may have differences, to
find each other and say, You know what? It's our country. We need to
be patriots. We need to look at the difficulties and how to go
forward. I've met ex ministers, DGS, business people, everybody
has the same thought, how do we take the country forward
positively? I mean, that's a great thought to have in this kind of
environment, as the weather is fantastic for for winter, it's a
great day, great sun, and there's so much of happiness and
enthusiasm in the area. I want to steal from what you have just said
around nation building, because a lot of South Africans who didn't
want this outcome might be thinking, where's my place in this
country? Where do I see myself, even politically, when I feel like
my hopes and dreams my wishes have not been realized? And I think
what's important about what you said was it doesn't matter from
which perspective you come. If we have the central vision and
purpose of doing something in taking our country forward, that
is enough and a good enough start. You see, the problem is people
think the country belongs to the government. The country doesn't
belong to the government. They're only administrators of the
country. The country belongs to us, to 65 million people, and we
the ones that make that difference, and we're the ones
that can make the pressure, and we are the ones that have to be
optimistic, and we are the ones that should do something
ourselves. Don't study, don't wait for what the government can do for
you is what you can do for the country. And we have that kind of
collective thinking. If you look at corporates, how to improve the
economy, how to create jobs, street sweeps, street workers. How
can you make the roads cleaner and better the public? Why do you draw
dirt in the drains? And that's why, when you have floods, all the
city gets messed up. All of us have to take responsibility,
because every single one of us is a patriot. And if you work
together, yes, there will be differences. We can never have the
same thoughts, but as long as you overcome and work in a collective
manner and find the right solution, we will solve the
problems of this country. We have some of those high profile
announced arrivals, and we heard there already who's coming into
the venue, approaching the amphitheater, and they are near
the stage, and that is mama grassa Michelle, and we'll see a number
of high profile people, people that we recognize historically,
people who are contemporary political players, people who are
heads of states or deputy heads of states and prime ministers of
their governments. Dr naledi Pando is one of the program directors
here today, the Minister of International Relations and
cooperation. And I know you have a special appeal that you've made
when it comes to her political future. Why do you want it to stay
on?
She's been integral on the Palestinian issue, you know? And
the ICG case was taken forward by her, her team, Ronald Lamola. And
of course, the judges, to me, ANC is the Palestine is part of AnC
policy. It has been there for for several years, from Mandela and
from all the leaders that have come through. To give that up
means to sell your soul, as we blunt and open about it, that to
give up that struggle, no matter what government, what partnership
we have formed, is to sell your soul, because that case was fought
on the basis of humanity, on integrity, on morality and on
values, and to suddenly say we're not going to take that case out,
tells me I can't trust you for now and for the future. It means a
very, very big mistake is being made, because if we lose our
humanity, there's much more we can lose going forward, what should be
happening so that I'm saying it again, Mr. President,
appoint Nele di Pando as the Minister of International
Relationships. In Minister of International Relations, you are
40% in the GNU. You have the strongest say. No smaller party
should stop you from doing that. And I call upon you again, as I
said last week, Wednesday at the tutu foundation, that they should
appoint Nele di Pando as the Minister of International
Relations. Forget the ICG case, forget Palestine. Because of that
itself, it has built such great stature for South Africa, wherever
you go in the world as a tour.
Just as an ordinary person, as a politician, South Africa stands up
like when we had it in 1994 we've lost it along the line, and this
has brought us back in the top of the world amongst every country,
not only governments, but the masses, the universities, the
students, the people, the taxi drivers, the hospitality industry.
We've gone right to the top, once again. That boosts our image. It
brings tourism as a byline. You know, people come to our country,
and people want to learn from our experience. What is your one
prayer from this moment today. Dr Suleyman, I think the government
has made a mistake. I don't think it's the government of national
unity. It's a government of selective unity. And I think, I
don't think I know I'm saying they should bring in the EFF, they
should bring in the Mk, because essentially, it's one guy, it's
one party, Eff, cope, MK, ANC, or one party. This was the liberation
movement. Why have you divided yourselves? Why you split yourself
with that better? We need to overcome the egos, the
differences, and go back to our roots and our values for humanity.
They need to sit together and solve the problems together. In a
quick word, is this one of the biggest mistakes the ANC is making
in this moment? Yes, I don't think the ANC is thinking clearly. I
don't think they're thinking for themselves. I think there's
outside influences thinking for them,
foreign powers, foreign governments, corporates, you know.
And I think the NC Don I think the NC should go back and look at the
friends that they've had. They've been in the trenches. They've done
lots of things together. How can you say it's a government of
national unity and exclude people that were in the trenches with
you? It just doesn't make sense. Dr, MTR, Suleiman, at least we can
always rely on you to speak your mind as you see it. Thank you very
much for talking to us today. I know there's a warm black blanket
that's waiting for you on your chair. Go and get warm and again,
appreciate the work that the organization does.