totally random

We have decided to go for Hajj this year, though it’s almost 2 weeks to go till the 1st batch of Hujjaj start leaving and we still have not got accreditation. I just got this via email:

Fallout over haj quota 

The fallout has already begun over South Africa’s smaller than expected haj quota. Haj group, Khidmatul Awaam (KA) went on the war path after the South African Haj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) announced at the weekend that it had only been awarded an additional haj quota of 500, taking the total number of SA hujjaj this year to 3,000. The not for gain operator has slammed the haj regulator for capping their tally on 600 when they had applied to take more than 1,500 hujjaj with them.

“We are currently being prejudiced by the release of the additional quota of 500 by Sahuc as the portal that allows for pilgrim applicants to choose an operator has been locked to prevent any pilgrim from choosing KA. We believe this prejudice and injustice is unwarranted and not in the interest of the pilgrims or the operators as these decisions taken by Sahuc are without cause and understanding,” the operator said in a statement signed by Hassan Vally.

The operator - which is one of the few non profit operators in the country - claims to have become one of the largest in the country within three years. “Pilgrims have been calling our offices as they cannot choose KA on the Sahuc portal. This means that given the deadline for hujaj to respond by choosing an operator by 20h00 on Monday, our potential hujjaj, as well as KA, are being prejudiced. This seems indicative that policy and regulation seems to be happening in a void and these judgements are affecting all Muslims on an important 5th pillar of their religion.”

Speaking to VOC earlier on Monday, KA spokesperson Sulaiman Patel explained that KA had approached Sahuc earlier in the year with a formal application about an added quota. After consideration, they were informed that given SA’s official haj quota of 2,500, all operators are capped at 600, but with the hope of an addition to the SA quota, KA had hoped for more.

However, when the expected addition was far smaller than Sahuc had hoped for, KA was notified by the regulator that their request for an increase could not be considered. Sahuc had asked for a total SA quota of 7,500, however the regulator said the addition of 500 at the weekend only met the need of 10% of those still waiting in the queue for accreditation. KA has now threatened to take legal action, amongst others for the losses it would incur after making arrangements for 1,250 hujjaj.

In the first place, why does South Africa even have a quota? Look at our neighbouring countries who do not have a majority muslim population. None of them have quota’s . Why does South Africa have a quota and not countries like Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe etc? 

Also, people we know personally have had their names added to the list, having applied several weeks after we applied. The agents were able to ‘organize’ this after the package was booked and paid for. Apparently they logon to the system and swap your name for people who have already been accredited but are not going. To be clear, if the people involved did not request it then there is no blame on them. However why are there people on the accredited list who are not going in the first place? Why are the operators able to do this and change the names? 

Why?  

Do you really want to begin your Journey by deception?

Would you risk your Haj and it’s acceptance on this? 

See this Mufti’s response to a similar question: Getting Haj Visa on Black Market

SAHUC Process:

• Does anyone know what is the priority and the order names are selected?
• Have these been published?
• Is there an easy way for the public to Audit that the correct meathod is followed?

The answer to all of this is NO

Since the goal of SAHUC is to ‘serve the muslim community’ why are they not more open?

They also have this extremely worrying notice in their Terms & Conditions:

What does this mean? If you ‘whistle blow’ and report corruption i.e Agents that ‘swap’ names and organise accreditation, you can be banned? Should this be in the terms and conditions for an organisation that wants to serve the community? Do you really want to punish the people who are speaking out against this?