The South African Hajj and Umrah Council has released its audited financial statements for 2019-2020, which shows it has a surplus of over R5 million. This is an increase of R465 000 compared to last year. Sahuc's financial income, until March 2020, was released during its annual general meeting held in Johannesburg on Sunday. However, after raised-eyebrows from the public, SAHUC President Shaheen Essop cleared the air and ensured the […]
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) and the South African Muslim Travel Operator’s Association (Samtoa) has welcomed the announcement that Saudi Arabia will be gradually resuming umrah for a limited number of mu'tamireen, with international flights expected as early as November 2020. It follows the cancelling of all hajj and umrah trips in March, during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, where visits to the holy cities of […]
The South African Haj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) says there is no definitive answer on whether umrah will open up to international travellers early next year. Saudi Arabia has announced it will open its international borders on 1st January 2021, however, the decision will be reviewed in December. The Kingdom also announced yesterday it would lift all restrictions on citizens leaving and returning to the Kingdom, including opening land, sea […]
In a major shake-up for the local Muslim travel industry, South African Muslim Travel Association (SAMTA) has united with The South African Travel Hajj and Umrah Operators Association (SATHUOA) to form a national organization called South African Muslim Travel Operators Association (SAMTOA.) Speaking to VOC News, the chairperson of the newly formed organisation, Sedick Steenkamp said SAMTOA represented the majority of licensed hajj and umrah operators in South Africa. “If […]
With the historic Hajj 1441 season successfully rolled out despite the COVID19 pandemic, Muslims now await the announcement of the umrah season. However, the South African Travel and Haj Operators Association (Sathoa) chairperson Sedick Steenkamp anticipates that the umrah season can only be expected to commence in three months from now in the month of Rabi-u-Awwal. With social-distancing measures still in place in most countries, there would likely be changes […]
Saudi Arabia's decision to suspend travel to the country's holiest sites over fears of the fast-spreading coronavirus has left travel agents scrambling to rearrange bookings as pilgrims remain in the dark over how long the "temporary" ban might continue. Late on Wednesday, Riyadh's foreign ministry tweeted that it was suspending entry for pilgrims heading to Mecca and Medina for Umrah, as the coronavirus, also known as COV-19, continued to spread across the Middle East. Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca […]
A group of Strand pilgrims have now laid criminal charges against alleged fraudster Fasiegh Adams. The disgraced imam is accused of defrauding two groups of mu'tamireen from Mitchells Plain and Strand out of R1.3 million. The pilgrims had paid their umrah in full but did not depart in December as planned. Adams was arrested at Cell C in Claremont over the weekend on fraud charges - related to cellphone contracts. […]
By Tougheeda Doovey With hujjaj having to select operators before the last SAHUC deadline on Thursday, 6 February, the South African Travel Haj Operators Association (Sathoa) held a hajj market day on Sunday that allowed hujjaj to get more information on hajj packages and which operator to choose for this journey. The website, called Hajj and Umrah Info, can assist pilgrims in getting the best packages to suit their needs. […]
Fasieg Adams, a disgraced imam at the centre of several hajj and umrah scandals, did not appear in court on Monday, following his arrest on fraud charges over the weekend. Adams did not make it the Wynberg Magistrates court due to allegedly being sick, resulting in the case being postponed. Adams was arrested at the Cell C store in Cavendish Square for having taken out fraudulent cellphone contracts to an […]
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.
