Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder of Gift of the Givers, the largest humanitarian relief organisation in Africa based in KZN, was awarded the Order of the Baobab in silver on Freedom Day at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria.

The order is awarded to South African citizens “for distinguished service, well above and beyond the ordinary call of duty.”

On 26 April, Dr Sooliman received his honorary award of Doctor of Social Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, at a special graduation ceremony held at the Westville Campus Sports Centre. Sooliman was elated to receive such a great award from his very own university. “Nothing is greater than getting an award from where you came from,” he said.

He went on to stress the importance of remembering where we came from; bearing in mind that the positions we occupy today, are as a result of the sacrifices made by our parents in raising us and giving us a good education.

The Al-Ansaar Foundation, a Durban-based Muslim community organisation, too honoured Dr Sooliman at a special event with the Imam of the Haram in Makkah, Shaykh Khalid al Ghamdi at the NMJ Islamic Centre in Morningside, Durban on the evening of Thursday, 4 March. Awards were presented to both Dr Sooliman and cricketer Hashim Amla (neither of whom could attend the function) for being regarded by the Foundation as South African Muslim stalwarts who were ambassadors of Islam.