South African Travel and Haj Operators Association

The South African Travel and Haj Operators Association is one of the two major Haj operator associations in South Africa, the other one being the South African Muslim Travel Association.

• Members list

Recent Updates

10 more visas released
Thanks to ongoing negotiations between the Saudi haj authorities and the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc), another 10 haj visas were released on Tuesday, decreasing the number of accredited hujjaj waiting for visas from 27 to 17. Since Thursday, a total of 50 visas had been made available to accommodate accredited hujjaj whose visas were usurped by others who had bought their visas.
Speaking to VOC's Open Lines on Tuesday evening, Sedick Steenkamp of the South African Travel and Haj Operators Association (Sathoa) said that the issue of haj visas for accredited hujjaj should hopefully be resolved by the end of the week. "Some of our members have had meeting with the hujjaj, and while we are hopeful, one cannot give total guarantees," he said.
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Published by Voice of the Cape on Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Only 36 visas needed
Following the fall out over purchased foreign haj visas, negotiations between the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) and the Saudi embassy has succeeded in reducing the number of visas required for accredited hujjaj from 67 to 36 by the weekend. This figure was confirmed to VOC by both Sahuc and the South African Travel and Haj Operators Association (Sathoa) on Sunday.
According to Sahuc president, Imam Hashim Salie, "the 36 visas were in the process of being resolved", without indicating when those hujjaj could expect to leave.  At the same time, Sathoa spokesperson, Sedick Steenkamp, confirmed that amidst an ongoing investigation into the visa scandal, efforts continued by several parties  to ensure that the accredited hujjaj were the top priority.
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Published by Voice of the Cape on Sunday, 9 October 2011

Bring back visas: Sahuc
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) has confirmed that an investigation was underway into allegations of haj visas being sold outside of the SA quota and has urged people who obtained such visas to return them. This comes after the haj regulator confirmed to VOC on Tuesday evening that visas that had been wrongfully obtained in this manner had come at the expense of SA hujjaj who had been properly accredited. However, neither Sahuc nor the South African Travel and Haj Operators Association (Sathoa) could confirm exactly how many accredited hujjaj had been affected.
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Published by Voice of the Cape on Wednesday, 5 October 2011

Scandal saddens Sathoa
The South African Travel and Haj Operators Association (Sathoa) said it was deeply shocked and saddened about the investigation into the selling of haj visas by numerous accredited haj operators outside of the South African haj quota. Speaking to VOC's Open Lines on Tuesday evening, spokesperson Sedick Steenkamp confirmed that Sathoa had been informed by the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (Sahuc) on Monday about the investigation and was co-operating fully.
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Published by Voice of the Cape on Wednesday, 5 October 2011
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