Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 07-03-2019

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) has released its third hajj accreditation list for Hajj 2019/1440.

South Africa has been granted a quota of 3,500 for the forthcoming hajj following a SAHUC protocol meeting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last month.

With a waiting period of between 4 to 5 years and more than 23,000 first time hujjaj that are still on the waiting list, Sahuc and South Africans are waiting anxiously to see if the Hajj body’s request for a quota of six thousand will be granted by authorities.

However even with the increase in the quota, there are concerns about the high number of deferrals on the accreditation lists allegedly due to the high cost of hajj packages amongst other issues.

Sahuc’s Moaaz Casoo says out of the 3,500 first accreditation list that was issued on the 9th of February, 1,200 places have been deferred.

Casoo says there is a possibility of a fourth accreditation list being issued.

“Currently we only have 1,200 names which are left which need to be accredited for Hajj 2019/1440. That all depends on the deferrals and the acceptance from the third list, but the way we are seeing the trend, there is a very good possibility there would be a fourth list that would be out.”

Casoo says the Hujjaj on the third list have until 18 March at 5pm to accept their accreditation.