Meet the South Africans participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza aid

The South African delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla has been selected after scrutiny and will be doing its part to break the blockade obstructing the delivery of aid to Palestinians.

The flotilla, which is made up of approximately 100 countries, comes after last year’s attempts to break the blockade obstructing the delivery of aid.

The initiative originated with human rights and civil society activists, serving as a platform to express solidarity with the rights of Palestinians and to voice their deep concern over the disregard for international law.

Over the weekend, the South African delegation to the Global Sumud Flotilla was announced.

Global Sumud Flotilla South Africa spokesperson, Firoza Mayet, said: “These are not politicians. These are people who decided their bodies, their names, and their presence mattered more than their comfort. This is what we did as South Africans in our fight for freedom, and these delegates remind us that ‘our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians’.

Those selected as part of the SA contingent are: 

• Yusuf Rahman is a business strategist and videographer. He is a 22-year-old South African, a husband who has been married for two-and-a-half years and is one of six brothers. Rahman is also a young media activist, focusing on storytellers using video production to amplify unheard voices and document social realities. 
• Mogamed Faeek Ariefdien is a stalwart of the anti-Apartheid struggle based in Cape Town. Ariefdien fought the apartheid system. Ariefdien believes that his purpose in life is to carry the torch for the oppressed and vulnerable and contribute in whatever form possible towards justice and dignity.

• Nkosi Zulu is a Christian South African born in Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal. His roots are in the struggle, in faith and in the fight for liberation of the oppressed, to achieve the objective of uBuntu.
• Ambassador Faizel Moosa is a humanitarian, political activist, and veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle, with decades of experience in leadership, security, and public service.
• Ebrahim Peters is a young activist who was born and schooled in Cape Town. He studied Arabic and Islamic Law at Al-Azhar University, Egypt. In 2011, he joined the Africa 1 Aid Convoy (South African leg), which inspired him to become actively involved in community and humanitarian efforts.

• Qutb Hendricks is a 48-year-old South African chef, entrepreneur, and humanitarian based in Cape Town. He has studied and worked locally and internationally in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. His work extends beyond the kitchen into advocacy, where he actively engages in humanitarian initiatives, demonstrating a deep commitment to social justice and community upliftment.
• Hajar Kagiso Al-Tha'irah is a 22-year-old Masters student and public health researcher's assistant from Cape Town, South Africa. She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Palestine Solidarity Association at the University of the Western Cape and on the planning group for Dismantle The Ivory Tower.

Member of the Global Sumud (SA) Steering Committee, Yeshelen Govender, said that the SA-delegation was selected through consultative discussions, including interviews with the shortlisted participants that were presented to the Global Steering Committees. 

“Issues such as representativity were considered, as well as the budgetary constraints of the mission. The delegation was selected from a number of applicants, with a conscious decision to present a delegation of activists with a history of activism, particularly with regard to Palestine. 

“We wanted to avoid the performative nature of presenting a delegation of celebrities and social media influencers, without a history of established activism,” Govender said.

Govender added that the selection process was objective, as all the applicants applied through a central process. 

“Selection was based on the information provided from participants, which included personal information, skills and history of activism.”

He said that each delegate brings a multitude of skills to the flotilla, and they will be required to utilise all of these skills.

“We are proud of this delegation and the commitment they have shown to this mission; however, we want to emphasise that this is a dangerous mission. 

“The recent Israeli interception of the flotilla in international waters is a clear indication of the criminal depths that the Israelis will sink to to prevent any chance of the flotilla reaching Gaza. It is also an indication of the levels of desperation among the Israelis. They doubt their abilities to stop a flotilla of this size,” Govender said.

The departure date has not been confirmed due to security concerns, following the recent interception of the flotilla. 

“We are conducting risk assessments to minimise the prospects of harm to our participants, and there are variables such as weather conditions to consider.”

The Palestine Solidarity Alliance recently condemned the abduction, detention and reported torture of Global Sumud Flotilla activists Thiago Ávila and Saif Abukeshek by Israeli forces.

The two activists were seized in international waters near Crete, Greece, on 30 April while participating in a humanitarian mission aimed at challenging the siege of Gaza and affirming the right of Palestinians to life, dignity and freedom.

The boats were in international waters more than 500 nautical miles away from the Gaza Coast.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za