Recently many sheikhs and imams from Saudi Arabia have been coming to South Africa.

Answer

We are living in an age about which the Hadith says: "The dunya will be pursued with the amal of the Aakhirah." The Athaan, Iqaamah, Salaat and the Masaa-il of the Deen are all a'maal (virtuous acts) which are practised to gain the Pleasure of Allah Ta'ala and thawaab in the Aakhirah. However, nowadays the Deen is utilized and mis-manipulated for worldly and nafsaani objectives. Show (riya), flattery and pride contaminate the acts of ibaadat and the Musaajid in these days. It is for this reason that even ulama crawl obsequiously at the feet of government officials, government imams and the establishment ulama. It is not permissible to shove aside the permanent Muath-thin to enable another person to give the athaan on some misguided notion of impressing the visiting Saudi sheikh. In pushing the poor Muath-thin aside, they are violating his Haqq. It is HARAAM to change the Iqaamah and recite Hayya alas Salaah and Hayya alal falaah only once despite the Masnooniyat of these acts. To change an act of ibaadat for pleasing/impressing a human being is SHIRK, the effect of which could be kufr at the time of Maut. Those who have ordered this act of shirk/kufr should hang their heads in shame for making a mockery of Ibaadat which is exclusively for the Sake of Allah Azza Wa Jal.

It is preferable that the Muqeem Imaam leads the Salaat, not the musaafir even if he happens to be a Buzrug. The Salaat of all the Muqtadis is invalid if they performed behind a musaafir Imaam who makes four raka'ts.