The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) recently met with the Ministry of Hajj to discuss the 20 per cent reinstatement of the Quota that was reduced in 1433H.  This change would positively impact on the number of Hujaaj awaiting accreditation for Hajj 1438.

Speaking to VOC’s Breakfast Beat, SAHUC president, Shaheen Essop explained that SAHUC has was invited by the Ministry of Haj and Umra to discuss logistics and procedural changes in the kingdom, which he affirmed SAHUC is ready for.

One of the pertinent issues discussed in the meeting was the reinstatement of 20 per cent that was removed from foreign quotas since 1433, leaving the quota with 2500 official placements.

Early on Tuesday, SAHUC officially released 601 names in the accredited second list, which is released in the range in which people applied.

To be eligible in this list, prospective pilgrims should have applied between January 7 and February 19, 2013. After which applicants have until 5pm on the February 6, 2017, to accept the accreditation and avoid penalties.

Essop further stated that following submissions by operators, which ended on January 20, 2017, the accreditation list for haj operators, is currently under review.

“At the moment, we are processing the information that was provided and we hope to have completed that as soon as possible,” Essop noted.

Given concerns of penalties imposed on prospective hujjaaj who are unable to perform the pilgrimage at the time the list is confirmed, SAHUC allows hujjaaj to defer the accreditation.

“If you are not ready or you are not able to afford, you are able to push forward your accreditation. You simply log on to the system, use your user name and password and request to transfer your application to next year.”

“Please note that this is not an accreditation transfer; you are basically declining accreditation for this year and asking SAHUC to move your application to a future year of your choice,” he continued.

Essop asserts that if hujjaaj listed on the accreditation list do not accept their accreditation or defer accreditation by the due date, they stand to lose 30 points.

For more information, contact SAHUC at info@sahuchajjregistry.org.za.

VOC 91.3fm