By Aneeqa du Plessis Over 1 000 pilgrims are expected back in South Africa over the course of the week. This comes as the Hajj 2023/1444AH season has wrapped up following an intense five days of fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam in Makkah Al Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia. Speaking on VOC’s Breakfast show on Monday, the South African Hajj, and Umrah Council (SAHUC) President Shaheen Essop said the departure from […]
By Aneeqa du Plessis The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) has announced that due to a moratorium issued by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the medic clinic erected to service local hujaaj (pilgrims) in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah has been shut indefinitely. “We are sourcing accommodation outside of the Ring road as close as possible to the hotels where the […]
Muslims across the globe have taken to social media to express their outrage following the release of new Ramadhan 2023/1444 AH restrictions set for the Saudi Kingdom by the country’s Minister of Islamic Affairs, Abdul Latif Al-Sheikh. Among the Arabic mandates released last week Friday in the contentious ten-point document, children will no longer be allowed in the Masjid Al Haram during prayer as they may cause distractions to the […]
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has developed a mobile application that will be available a week before the umrah resumes so that pilgrims can register and book on it. They will also need to follow the health guidelines provided in the app. The app will ensure the implementation of coronavirus regulations. The purpose of launching the app under the name of Itemarna is to provide immediate entry permits […]
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) says the Saudi Kingdom’s directive to haj operators to place a hold on hajj administration is a “cautionary measure”. With the coronavirus now labelled as a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the prospect of hajj for this year hangs in the balance. Already, Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended the entry to people coming from 39 countries including those in […]
South Africans will not be able to perform umrah following a global suspension of travel to the Saudi Kingdom in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The South African Haj and Umrah Operators Association (SATHOA) has confirmed that Saudi Haj ministry has suspended umrah visas for the upcoming umrah season. This has placed enormous pressure on local umrah operators and there is uncertainty on how it will impact on booked […]
While Muslims around the world observe Ramadan while going about their days, a lucky few are venturing to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina to perform Umrah. Ramadan being the busiest period of the year for the Umrah pilgrimage, thousands of mu’tamireen flocks to the holy lands, where Saudi Arabian officials take all precaution to ensure an incident free experience. Speaking to VOC’s In the Fast Lane, newly elected […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
