Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 06-09-2016
Hajj operator Khidmatul Awaam says all its hujjaj that have opted for “Camp C” in Arafah have been notified that the facility does not have air-blowers and that this was acknowledged by them when they signed their hajj contracts.
Khidmatul Awaam says it took a unanimous decision not to take camps with air blowers indicating that the original prices of 1,400 Saudi Riyals quoted by Saudi authorities was too exorbitant and unaffordable to them and to the hujjaj even after the reduction of the fee to 350 Saudi Riyals.
With the mercury expected to peak at between 45 and 50 degrees in Arafah, the South African Hajj and Umrah Council yesterday told Radio Islam it was fully aware that South Africa is the only African non-Arab country that have opted for no air-conditioned camps for non-special services during hajj.
Khidmatul Awaam’s Imran Saban says that 566 of the hujjaj that have embarked on the journey of hajj with them simply could not afford the extra money for special services at such short notice.
He says that 66 hujjaj that could afford the fee upgraded themselves to special services.
“Some of these hujjaj at the moment and this is why we are doing the feeding don’t even have enough money for food, because at this stage they spent all their money on gifts and preparations, whatever the case they done with their money.”
Saban has denied allegations that other operator’s hujjaj who are on non-special services could not get air blowers because of Khidmatul Awaam
“No it’s not try, it’s not true. Maybe an agent is telling their people these things. Unanimously all operators, everyone reported they are not going to take it, not because of Khidmatul Awaam.”
Saban says from next year it will be compulsory upon all hujjaj to add the cost of having air cooled camps in Arafah in their hajj packages.
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