Cii News | 28 September 2012

The South African Hajj and Umrah Council(SAHUC) has decided to oppose an application by Aziza and Ahmed Abrahams filed yesterday in the South Gauteng High Court.

The two pilgrims had their accreditation cancelled after initially being approved and have now requested the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate SAHUC for any alleged irregular or corrupt activities.

The couple claimed in the court papers that SAHUC cancelled their accreditation on the premise that they had lied in their application about being for Hajj before.

The couple stated under oath that they informed a SAHUC official that they both went for Hajj in 1992 and despite this they were granted accreditation on the 30 June 2012 only to have it revoked on 5 September 2012, two weeks before their departure.

In the court papers, the pair claimed that SAHUC had ulterior motives in their hajj accreditation process.

Imaam Hashim Saleh, the SAHUC president, said they received notice of the application on Thursday afternoon. “We have consulted our lawyers and will be opposing the application. A replying affidavit will be filed by Tuesday.”

Attorney for the applicants Zehir Omar said, “We want the Director of Public Prosecution to investigate any irregular or graft activities at SAHUC. It is now clear that corruption constitutes a giving of a reward and the obtaining of a benefit which would not otherwise have been obtained.”