Who holds defaulting travel umrah operators accountable?

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Despite its challenges, the haj industry has improved over the years and hajj is for the most, managed well. The problems, however, persist in the umrah industry.

During the festive season, when umrah travel picks up in South Africa, serious issues with umrah operators often surfaces. Recently on air, our news team has been covering the story of New Heights travel, an umrah operator which owes more then R4 million to many mu’tamireen, most of whom were meant to travel in September this year. Their trips were cancelled by the operator Fazila Malek due to new changes in the visa system. These pilgrims are now taking legal action.

Tonight, on Burning Issue we ask the question, who holds defaulting travel umrah operators accountable? And what is needed to seriously tighten the industry?


In-studio, we have Sedick Steenkamp, chairperson of the SA Travel Haj Operators Association (Sathoa) and a little bit later on, we’ll chat to Shaheen Essop from the South African Haj and Umrah Council (SAHUC).

Goolam Fakier unpacks this matter.
17 Dec 2019 English South Africa News

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