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[…]
The South African Hajj and Travel Operators Association (SATHOA) met with the South African Hajj and Umrah Council regarding Saudi Arabia’s ban on Umrah. Many aspiring mutamireen have expressed concerns over their bookings and monies, after the Kingdom suspended Umrah to curb the spread of the global spread of the[…]
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.[…]
As the deadline draws closer for hujjaj to select a hajj operator for the hajj season, picking the right package can become tricky especially if it is your first time embarking on this sacred journey. The South African Hajj Travel Association (SATHOA) will host a umrah and hajj market day[…]
In a move widely welcomed by the Muslim world, the Saudi Arabian government has scrapped repeat umrah visa fees. The scrapping has also been coupled with the introduction of a new online umrah booking system that makes it possible to book and plan your Umrah with increased independence. However, those[…]
With the Hajj pilgrimage now drawing to a close, hajj authorities report that despite some minor logistical challenges, the rollout of the pilgrimage has been incident free over the past five days. By Tuesday, most hujjaj had completed the pelting of the Jamarat and will now return to Makkah to[…]
The South African Haj Travel Operators Association (Sathoa) says hajj operators should ensure that all processes are in place before pilgrims leave for the airport. 22 hujjaj who were meant to depart for hajj on Saturday arrived at OR Tambo international airport in Johannesburg to discover that their visas were[…]
More than 700 people responded to the call to fill the additional haj quota and the South African Haj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) is now in the process of ratifying 500 hujjaj to travel over the next two weeks. The hujjaj have until the end of Monday to accept or[…]
Amid concerns around fly-by-night travel operators and travel scams, South African travellers have been urged to do proper research before parting with their money. Lured by amazing deals at affordable prices, many unsuspecting travellers have been victims to bogus operators. In the umrah industry, these concerns are more pressing, as[…]
As accredited South Africans prepare for Hajj 2019/1440, the South African Haj Travel Association (SATHOA) has advised hujaaj that there may be an increase in price compared to last year, but assures that everything is being done to minimise this cost. SATHOA vice president Sedick Steenkamp explained some components of[…]
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