Humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers has sent their condolences to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s family after his passing today. Organisation head Imtiaz Sooliman says the Archbishop was a giant of a man and he was exemplary of a true Nobel laureate. Sooliman says the nation has lost one of its greatest assets. He recalls his first meeting with the Arch.
“It is indeed a tremendously great loss to our country. We’ve lost national and international assets. The term Nobel Peace Winner suits him thoroughly. He is a man that lived the award that he won. I found him truly humble. I remember the first time I met him in his office in Cape Town. Here we were standing among greatness. The man was so humble. He received us with such open arms. Smiling, joking, full of wit, full of humour. So relaxed. He made you feel so calm and so easy. Walking into his place we were so intimidated but he made you feel fully relaxed,” Sooliman explains.
Sooliman says Gift of the Givers cherishes the many projects it has undertaken with the Anglican Church locally, on the continent, internationally, and with the Group of Elders.
“We did a lot of projects together in South Africa, in Swaziland. Our teams travelled together to Haiti to the earthquake. When there was some crisis in Syria and we needed some assistance he was a part of the group of Elders. He approached us. And on so many things he approached us. Even his and Leah’s Tutu Foundation recognise us with some award. But it wasn’t those things that were important. What was important was the honesty, the integrity, the spirituality of this man. He is a man of God, a man of the collar who really lived the teachings and promoted good,” Sooliman added.
VIDEO: Media briefing on the passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu:
