South Africa’s increasingly hostile stance toward Israel has led to increased speculation about connections within the country’s political, religious and humanitarian communities.
The main claim is that decades-long ties between South African Muslim groups, officials involved in the Muslim Brotherhood and Qatar-affiliated networks on one hand, and ANC officials, on the other hand, have created a powerful anti-Israel faction.
One of the strongest claims has been made by some organizations like the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), which has uncovered ties between South African organizations and the Union of Good, which was designated in 2008 by the United States as a major financial contributor to Hamas.
Yet the claims are politically controversial, and contacts between individuals and organizations do not necessarily mean that the South African government is under the control of the Muslim Brotherhood.
How Yusuf al-Qaradawi Became Central to the Network
The most common feature of all those accusations is that they include an influential religious man from Egypt named Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who is one of the most influential scholars associated with the Muslim Brotherhood of the modern age.
Qaradawi left Egypt in 1954 after Egypt declared the Muslim Brotherhood illegal. He moved to Qatar, where he became a significant religious figure and got massive international exposure through Al Jazeera.
Later, Qaradawi was linked to the International Union of Muslim Scholars and the Union of Good, the latter organization being marked by the US Treasury in 2008 due to its connection with Hamas organizations.
The significance of Qaradawi’s legacy is still controversial because he supports violent resistance, his position on suicide attacks, and his attitude towards Israel.
It is crucial for the South African situation because the opponents of the government argue about the connections of South African clerics and charities with this international network.
Gabriels, Ebrahim and the South African Link
Perhaps the most notable individual mentioned in the above reports is Ebrahim Gabriels, who was a former president of the South African Muslim Judicial Council and is the director of the Al-Quds Foundation of South Africa.
As per the FDD, Gabriels has been reported to be on the board of the Union of Good in the early 2000s. In addition, the FDD claims that Gabriels used to be the chairperson of the South African branch of Al-Aqsa Foundation, which had been sanctioned by the US in 2003.
Also, Gabriels has been associated with several activities conducted by Hamas officials, including a South African welcoming ceremony for then Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal.
All of the above relationships have been the basis for the claim that South Africa has created a domestic support structure for Hamas and other causes associated with Muslim Brotherhood politics.
Imtiaz Sooliman and the Gift of the Givers Foundation
A prominent personality who plays an important role in this discussion is Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder of Gift of the Givers, one of the major humanitarian organizations in Africa.
According to FDD, Gift of the Givers was listed as a member organization of the Union of Good website in the early 2000s. Gift of the Givers has many humanitarian activities and has worked in several conflict and disaster areas.
According to FDD, an award was given to Sooliman by Qaradawi in 2011.
What made this issue more politically important was the involvement of Imtiaz Sooliman in the South African Coalition for Good along with former foreign minister Naledi Pandor and many other prominent personalities.
The Coalition for Good is listed as an organization of information and activist website in the field of humanitarian issues on the website of the organization.
Controversial Comments on the Topic of Jihad by Naledi Pandor
There are other statements made by Pandor in August 2025 that attracted a lot of criticism.
The South African Jewish Report says that she claimed that Muslims were “allowed to conduct jihad whenever it was necessary” and that they should develop into true activists and fight for people who are in danger.
It is important to note that the word “jihad” can have various meanings in Islam, including both peaceful and militant interpretations. Her statement, however, referred to activism and the protection of Palestinians.
Still, her comments made further criticism of South Africa’s approach to Israel and Palestine even more pronounced.
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