Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 06-01-2017
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) has confirmed it has not received any formal notification from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following reports of the approval to increase hajj quotas for 1438.
The Saudi Press Agency is reporting that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and the Deputy Crown Prince have raised the capacity of pilgrims and increase the numbers of pilgrims from inside and outside the Kingdom in accordance with the regulations.
The Minister of Haj and Umrah Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh bin Tahir Benten, yesterday thanked King Salman saying that the concerned authorities have made preparations to receive the additional number of pilgrims for the forthcoming Hajj.
SAHUC’s Hassen Choonara says they are aware of the media reports that have appeared in the Saudi Gazette and other Saudi media outlets of the Saudi government lifting the 20% reduction of the quota implemented a few years go.
“South African Hajj and Umrah Council places on record that it has not received any formal communication in this regard and until such the quota is still two thousand and until we receive formal communication we will advise the community at large Insha’Allah.”
The authorities imposed a 20 percent cut in the quota for foreign pilgrims coming from each country while the number of people allowed to perform Hajj within the Kingdom was reduced by 50 percent to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the largest ever expansion in the history of the Grand Mosque.
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