NMB Business Chamber
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has bestowed a special recognition on Gift of the Givers Founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman for his team's humanitarian efforts in helping to support communities impacted by the water crisis in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The award was presented by Chamber President Loyiso Dotwana after Dr Sooliman delivered his keynote address at an event hosted by the Chamber to mark Mandela Day.
Speaking during the event, Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen said the Chamber was grateful to Dr Sooliman and his team from Gift of Givers for their selfless and quick action in supporting the people of the Metro with the water crisis.
She said she hoped the acknowledgement will serve as a visible and long-standing recognition of what Dr Sooliman as the founder and lead of the Gift of the Givers has done in supporting the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
"We know that the scale of this is bigger than the work normally undertaken in drought stricken towns and that this is the quickest which Gift of the Givers has ever sunk boreholes," said Van Huyssteen.
"Specifically, we recognise the organisation's compassion, ubuntu and action, which has given hope to the people of Nelson Mandela Bay."
And at at handover function on Tuesday, Investec donated R500 000 to Gift of the Givers to support their efforts in mitigating day zero in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Gift of the Givers' borehole programme has already yielded up to 5.5 million litres of water a day for the City.
Investec Eastern & Southern Cape Private Bank head Jacky Buys said the company holds the partnership with Gift of the Givers in high regard and that the water crisis in the Metro is of great concern to the company.
Dr Sooliman said Gift of the Givers enjoys a special and long-standing partnership with Investec which does so much good during times of crisis across the country.
