From the news desk

Haj greeter arrested at airport

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A man was allegedly arrested at the Cape Town International airport on Sunday for making an idle threat after he was curbed from assisting hujjaj making their way through at the weighing in counter. The unknown man was not part of the hadjis heading to the Saudi Kingdom but merely a family member or friend of one of the group.

Sathoa chairperson Sedick steenkamp said that the man wanted to assist Sahuc at the weighing in counter and he was told that only the passenger who he assisted was allowed at the counter.

“The person then walked away and came back and retaliated by saying that he was part of a suicide squad. As he was leaving airport authorities alerted security and police then arrested the man,” said Steenkamp.

Steenkamp explained that he is unaware of what happened but said that it is not the first time that someone was taken in for questioning and released on a warming.

Steenkamp stressed that it was a very serious crime at any airport and does not only apply to the South African Civil Aviation Authority’s regulation.

He said the airport is full of notices discouraging people from making any threats or statements that provide a security threat to the airport.

Steenkamp labels the incident as unfortunate and added that whenever there are incidents of this nature it is never the hujjaj but in most cases the family and friends.

Those who are meeting and greeting family and friends are urged to adhere to the security rules and regulations.

“Unfortunately this sort of thing puts a botch on the entire departing of hujjaj and I need to stress that this is a very serious crime and people must please refrain from making such statements,” said Steenkamp.

Airport police has stated that no such incident was reported or recorded as happening at the airport on Sunday. VOC (Imogen Vollenhoven)


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