SA Hajj quota increased, but waiting list balloons

While South Africa has been granted an additional one thousand pilgrims that will be allowed to perform hajj in 2023 or the Islamic year 1444, the waiting list has ballooned to over 10 years.

This brings the total to 3 500 South Africans that will embark to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the once in a lifetime pilgrimage.

Quota

Speaking to The Citizen, South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) secretary general Moaaz Casoo said they welcome the increase in the quota.

“The base quota was 2 500 and we received increase of a thousand and that has now been completed. So, our total allocation for South Africa this year is 3 500 pilgrims.

Waiting list

Casoo added that the waiting list for South Africans to go for Hajj has ballooned.

“If we look at the backlog, we are sitting with about 36 000 first time pilgrims waiting in the system to go for Hajj.”

With a quota of 3 500, Casoo said that it will take at least a decade for people to go for Hajj.

“You looking at nothing under 10 years waiting. But that is provided everybody takes up the opportunity when selected.

“Obviously, the time period can be shortened depending on deferrals and cancellations,” Casoo said.

Casoo urged South African who want to perform hajj to register on Sahuc’s website when the accreditation is announced.

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Cost

With the weakening of the Rand against the Saudi Arabian Riyal, the annual pilgrimage has become more expensive for South Africans, which has a knock-on effect on the accreditation with people cancelling due to a lack of funds when they are accredited.

The cheapest package starts at R47 599, and the most expensive is R175 000 according to Hajj and Umrah information packages.

Meanwhile, the first flight of South African pilgrims for Hajj will be departing the country on 21 May.

In January, Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah announced the lifting of the Hajj quota restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic while speaking at a conference about the Hajj.

“I bring you good news in this meeting. The return of the numbers of pilgrims to what they were before the pandemic without any age restrictions,” al-Rabiah said.

ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia returns Hajj quota to pre-Covid levels