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DIRCO Must Clarify Hajj Quota and Comply With Embassy Directive

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to urgently clarify South Africa’s position in the new Nusuk Hajj system and to work towards securing a higher pilgrim quota.

The transition to the Nusuk platform, as announced by the Saudi Arabian Embassy, is a welcome development. It allows pilgrims to contract directly with tour operators, ensuring greater transparency and fairness compared to the previous Hajj Affairs model. With this shift, the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) must return all funds collected from pilgrims for Hajj 1447, as its intermediary role is no longer applicable.

In line with the Embassy directive and the statement by DIRCO, the total move is from NUSUK MASAAR to NUSUK direct, and all processes must comply with this instruction.

We further call on both DIRCO and the CRL Commission to urgently liaise and withdraw all previous letters of mandate or recognition granted to SAHUC, to honour the directive of the Saudi Embassy. All assets of SAHUC must also be returned.

South Africa’s reduced quota remains a serious concern. DIRCO must immediately confirm our registration status with Saudi authorities and explain why the allocation has been lowered.

The end of SAHUC’s monopoly as sole operator and regulator is a positive step towards a more accountable and open system for pilgrims. The DA will closely monitor the implementation of the Nusuk system to ensure South Africans’ rights are protected and will hold DIRCO accountable for delivering on these commitments.

Regards

Haseena Ismail MP
DA Spokesperson on Tourism

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