Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 14-08-2018
With the current Hajj waiting list growing longer every year, the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) has turned down an additional one thousand visas granted by the Saudi Arabian Embassy saying it would’ve been impossible for the Hajj body or hujjaj to prepare for the journey on time.
Sahuc says it received official correspondence from the embassy on Monday informing them that a Royal Decree had been issued to increase the hajj quota for Hajj 1439 by one thousand.
In a statement, Sahuc says while it appreciates the gesture by the Saudi authorities, there are a number of factors that would’ve made it impossible to accept the additional visas.
“The last flight departs on the 15th of August at 11am as per the General Authority of Civil Aviation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, there are numerous processes which needs to be completed prior to the 4th of Thul Hijjah.”
Sahuc also says travel operators are required to sign contracts with the respect of the Hujjaj and subsequently upload the contracts onto E-Hajj system prior to passport submission to obtain a hajj visa.
The hajj body says it will also be difficult to obtain accommodation and flights within a short period of time at a reasonable cost.
Sahuc says it has requested the embassy to consider granting the increase in quota at earlier date to avoid improbabilities.
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