Imtiaz Sooliman – on militant attack of Mali hotel
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AI: Transcript ©
On this story, we are now joined from Durban by gift of the givers.
Founder and chairperson, Doctor Imtiaz Suleiman. Doctor Suleiman,
thank you so much for joining us. Have you been in contact with your
rescued gift of the givers? Member,
yes. You know, it was strange yesterday, many media call us when
they heard when the story broke, because, as you know, we're
actively involved in Mali. At the moment, Buzzy on the Stephen
McGowan case, but we had no information at that point. And
after last night, we never knew of any South Africans being caught up
in that hotel. But this morning, on our personal chat, we have a
chat group where search and rescue members and MediCal members post
vital information, and the information came through this
morning that one of our search and rescue members was indeed in Mali
at the time, and later on, we got confirmation from himself that he
was in the hotel. There was a shootout whilst he was in the
hotel. He ducked in his room, then went into the tub, because in case
Buddhist came to the wall and was safer to duck in the tub and lie
there. This morning, he mentioned that the United Nations people
came, and he and other people were saved from the hotel. They were
not taken hostage. They were in their rooms. They were taken they
were safely recovered from the hotel and then taken to the United
Nations compound. But I must stress, he was there in his
personal capacity, capacity, not as a gift of the givers, on any
gift of the givers assignment at that point. But so far, do you
have any other information on some other South Africans that were
there?
Well, a little later, after well, just a short while ago, in fact,
he confirmed that there's another South African with him. He said
that there were three of them and but we know we don't know if the
third person was a South African. We know that him and the second
person were both South Africans. They are both safe, and they are
alive. He said the third person is missing. Who the third person is,
we don't know, and we don't know whether you South African. I'm
just waiting for more information. In the next 15 minutes,
apparently, they all now in the UN compound, all of them sitting
together. They will be taken to a hotel to get some of their goods,
you know, in the hotel because they need some of their supplies.
And we're waiting to see if there are any more South Africans,
besides the two mentioned and the one that was missing. So within
the next 15 or 20 minutes, we should have that information, but
we are just receiving some information right now that
unfortunately, one South African died in that attack. Do you have
any information in that regard? In that section there,
they didn't confirm. As far as they don't know of any South
African who has died at this moment of time. He doesn't know
that that may be in enough different group, but we've asked
that information. But he did say, look, he said, Look, I can't
communicate now. I'm traumatized. I'm not in the mood to speak right
now. That was earlier, and he said also, they told him they probably
meaning the United Nations that's not secure to talk on the phone
now, but in the last few minutes, some information is coming
through. And as I said, within 15 minutes, we should know if they
are aware of a South African that has passed on, and if they are
aware of any other South Africans that are alive and with them at
this moment of time. And what kind of assistance are you then giving
to to your worker who is in Mali, and when can we expect him or them
back home?
Well, he went not on behalf of us, as he went on a personal contract,
but we've offered him any assistance that it requires being
a volunteer member of our team and having done great service for us
in the Philippines, we offered him assistance, but for now, we said
he is fine. Doesn't require any assistance, but he knows that
assistance is available if he needs it in any form whatsoever.
All right. Thank you so much. That was gift of the givers. Founder
and chairperson, Dr imtia Suleiman, speaking to us live from
Devon. I.