Faizel Moosa, Ambassador of South Africa to Qatar, is a man of diverse qualities. An advocate by profession, a political companion of Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid activist, and a thorough extrovert, he spoke at length during an interview with Community. Excerpts:
Please tell us briefly about your journey so far.
Born in 1963 in Cape Town South Africa, I am the son of a prominent lawyer of the country. We were seven brothers and two sisters. I am the second youngest.
My father molded my political outlook from a very young age. As a lawyer, he had defended many anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela. From an early age, I became active in the fight against apartheid during my high school years. After completing my high school, I started working as a clerk in my father’s law firm. The work exposed me to many well known anti-apartheid activists.
In 1984, some of my brothers and I joined the African National Congress [ANC]. I was arrested and detained several times between 1985 and 1990 for my political activities.
I was assigned by the ANC to work with Nelson Mandela the day he was released in 1990. I worked with Mandela till he was elected as the first black president of the Republic of South Africa in 1994.
I also started my own business. I got a university degree in law in 2000. In 2011, I was elected to the leadership of the ANC and remained politically active until I was appointed as the South African ambassador to Qatar in 2017.
How do you best define diplomacy? What are its basic tenets?
My role as a diplomat is to ensure and constantly improve political, social and economic relationship between South Africa and Qatar. Diplomacy therefore, is consistent strengthening of bilateral and multi-lateral relations among nations. It is my responsibility as an ambassador to always explore the opportunities that are in the national interest of my country and are in accordance with the foreign policy of my country.
One of the main tenants of diplomacy, in my view, is that you must always garner enough trust, credibility and understanding to be able to play a positive role in bringing about world peace especially in the turbulent international political environment. In this regard, I must compliment Qatar for its very impressive foreign policy which became more evident in the recent US and Taliban peace process. The lesson to be learnt is that one must always keep an avenue open for negotiations no matter what the circumstances are.
As a diplomat or political activist, what has been your most challenging assignment?
The most exciting and challenging for me was working with the great Mandela. He truly changed my view of life. Mandela took us into negotiations with the apartheid government which at the time was viewed as an enemy. Many of us including myself were not very happy for negotiating with the government. It is with hindsight that today, I thank the Almighty that we had Mandela’s wisdom and foresight which resulted in a fairly peaceful transition in South Africa.
On the diplomatic front, I have fewer challenges so far. We are two friendly countries and always work out our solutions. Recently, Qatar Airways and the Qatari authorities helped stranded South Africans reach home during Covid-19 pandemic.
What are other highlights of your career?
One of the highlights of my short diplomatic career is when Naledi Pandor, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, made an official visit to Qatar. We spent some quality time with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. During the visit we also had the opportunity to engage with the-then prime minister and the foreign minister of Qatar. These engagements strengthened my confidence to have better bilateral ties with Qatar.
What is your take on Qatar-South Africa relations? How many expats from your country are living here and what professions do they practice?
I believe that very cordial relations between the two brotherly countries will significantly improve in future. Qatar has a wonderful ambassador in South Africa and we share a common vision. Ambassador Tariq al-Ansari and I have regular contact and we work well together to further cement relations between the two countries.
There are about 6,500 South Africans living in Qatar and they are almost all white collar professionals. Many are in the healthcare sector at the cold face with the coronavirus pandemic. We also have many in the oil and gas, education and banking sectors.
Where does the bilateral trade currently stand and what are the potential areas for investment? In which areas Qatar can benefit from your country and vice versa?
Exports from South Africa to Qatar decreased marginally from ZAR1,029 million in 2018 to ZAR962 million in 2019. The trade deficit remains in favour of Qatar due to South African hydrocarbon imports with the total bilateral trade reaching ZAR3.59 billion in 2019. The presence of South African goods such as processed foods, fruit juice as well as fresh fruit and vegetables and frozen and fresh meat is increasing. There remain major opportunities for Qatar to tap into the South African food and agriculture sector. The investment of Qatar in exploring oil and gas in South Africa is also increasing.
After Covid-19 outbreak, the will definitely be a huge tourism opportunity going both ways between South Africa and Qatar.
What do you do in your leisure? What kind of books do you read, films you watch, and music you listen to?
I enjoy swimming. I’m also an outdoor person and thoroughly enjoy going into the desert, doing dune bashing and watching the sunset at the Sealine while having a barbeque with my family. Fortunately, just before the lockdown my wife bought a treadmill which has now become quite useful as we no longer go to the Corniche for our regular walks.
Lockdown has also given me the time to catch up on my reading and I enjoy reading biographies and life experiences. I prefer watching documentaries. When I do watch a movie it must be an action movie. I like Kevin Costner, Al Pacino and Jason Statham. I also enjoy many different music genres like classical and opera.
How would you describe your experience of living in Qatar? What places do you venture out the most?
I am fortunate enough to have been sent to Qatar for my first diplomatic posting. Qataris are very friendly once you get to know them. I have become quite accustomed to visiting them in their Majlis in the evenings. The new generation coming through is also well educated and hails from some of the best academic institutions in the world.
Doha is a very modern city and is exceptionally clean. My wife really enjoys the safety and security in Qatar. Before the lockdown, we regularly visited places like Souq Waqif, Souq Al Wakrah and Katara to dine out. I would still love to experience glamping in a desert. My family also likes going to Banana Island.
What is that one lesson in life that has always held you in good stead?
I think the one thing that my parents taught me was respect for your fellow human beings especially the elders and something that I learnt during my stint with Mandela was humility and forgiveness. These three tenants of life I believe have taken me to where I am today.
Community / Environment
“Always keep an avenue open for negotiations no matter what the circumstances”
RECOGNITION: Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed bin Ahmed al-Obaidli hands over a token of recognition to South African ambassador Faizel Moosa after a business meeting between Qatari private sector stakeholders and a delegation led by Harold Manamela of South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry.
