Dear Editor
The DA has submitted a PAIA application to the South African Hajj & Umrah Council (SAHUC) to obtain clarity on its decision to give itself full control over Hajj tour operations in South Africa.
Under this new system, tour operators will no longer be allowed to independently manage Hajj trips. Instead, they will be forced to conduct all business under SAHUC’s instruction. This centralisation of control risks pushing up the cost of the pilgrimage for ordinary South Africans, while threatening the jobs of hundreds of people who work in the Hajj travel industry.
No clear justification has been given for this sudden move, and there has been no meaningful consultation with the affected operators or the broader Muslim community. The lack of transparency over the Council’s mandate and authority to make such a sweeping change raises serious concerns.
The DA is demanding full disclosure on the legal status of SAHUC and the decision-making process behind this monopoly. If it emerges that the change was imposed without proper cause, it must be overturned immediately.
South African Muslims must not be forced to pay higher prices or lose access to trusted operators simply because of an unaccountable and unilateral decision.
Regards
Haseena Ismail MP
DA Spokesperson on Tourism