16 DHUL-QADA 1427

7 December 2006

HAJJ WATCH RESPONSE TO INCREASE IN HAJJ VISA QUOTA

Hajj Watch deems the increase in the Hajj quota for South Africa to be too late for the majority of Hujjaaj and the delay being due essentially to the incompetence of SAHUC and the abdication of the S.A. Dept. of Foreign Affairs to secure our necessary Visa quota with the Saudi Arabian Hajj Ministry

The South African Hajj and Umrah Council’s failure to secure a complete hajj quota in time and to offer consumer protection for South African Hujjaaj is as a result of talking directly to a foreign government, clearly a case of sending “a boy to do a mans job”. This has resulted in the majority of Hujjaaj scrambling about at the 11^th hour and being unable to turn this increase into a Hajj opportunity. This is due to the lack of flights and accommodation in Madinah and Makkah, at the originally agreed price as contracted with the Hajj Operators.

Hajj is a spiritual journey and requires planning and preparation months and even years in advance.  The preparation was not possible this year due to the poor management of the accreditation process. The current status quo necessitates the need for a new Regulator to be created from within the Muslim Community, to properly manage Hajj and Umrah in South Africa.

Hajj Watch believes that a new credible Hajj Regulator needs to be established to ensure equity for South African Hujjaaj. Its role will be to advise our government on what our rights are in Hajj and to ensure that the Department of Foreign Affairs negotiate and enter into agreements with the Saudi Arabian Government. The Regulator will further take responsibility for regulating the hajj industry and for the operational requirements of Hajj.

For an interview, kindly contact:

Western Cape          -           Yakoob Rawat       @         083 6300 557

Durban                       -           Mohamed Moola   @         082 7863 288