SAHUC’S HARAAM SHENANIGANS

26 April 2024 articles From the Desk of Goolam Rawat 11th March 2024 THE PRESIDENT SOUTH AFRICAN HAJJ AND UMRAH COUNCIL Assalaamu Alaikum, HUJJAJ CHEATED BY SAHUC 1. We hereby state categorically, SAHUC has cheated the Hujjaj of Hajj 1445/2024, as well as Hujjaj over the many years SAHUC has been in existence. 2. The evidence that follows will prove that SAHUC has unjustifiably enriched itself, at the cost / expense of current and previous Hujjaj. 3. I applied to be a Hajj Mission Field Worker, since Hajj 2020. 4. At the interview held on 19th February 2024, at the SAHUC Durban office – Board Members – Qari Moosa Seedat and Hafiz Ismail Kholvadia – who flew in from Johannesburg to conduct the interviews, and in the presence of Sheikh Adam (2nd Deputy President) – I was told for the upcoming Hajj, the Hajj Ministry informed SAHUC that only 25 workers will be allowed – the breakdown of which will have to be as follows –  13 Medical Mission workers, and  12 Mission Field workers 5. I asked Ismail Kholvadia (Head of Mission) – how many workers SAHUC intended to take in 2024. He replied – 60 Field and Medical workers. 6. SAHUC intended taking 60 Mission workers – but Hajj Ministry REDUCED this to 25 workers. This means that there will be 35x FEWER Mission workers serving SA Hujjaj. 7. We acknowledge SAHUC has NO CONTROL over the decisions made by the Hajj Ministry, and has to strictly abide by these decisions, whether it likes it, or not. 8. SAHUC informed current Hujjaj of an Accreditation Fee R1842.23 (attached hereto as Annexure A). 9. The Accreditation Fee was calculated as early as December 2023, or even earlier, while the directive from the Hajj Ministry to reduce workers to 25, was received in mid-February 2024 10. SAHUC calculated the Accreditation Fee of R1842.23 – based on various Cost to undertake the Hajj Mission – the highest Cost of the Mission being 60x Mission workers serving Hujjaj. 11. At the time of calculating the Accreditation Fee of R1842.23 – SAHUC could NOT have foreseen the Hajj Ministry reducing Mission workers from 60 to 25 Mission workers – mainly because this was NEVER done in previous Hajj Missions. 12. Whereas, we are NOT blaming SAHUC for the reduced Mission worker numbers from 60 to 25 – because this is totally out of SAHUC control – we hereby Demand SAHUC give Hujjaj a PRO-RATA REFUND of the Accreditation Fee – for taking 35x LESS Mission workers. 13. We hereby Demand a Detailed Breakdown of costs to calculate the Accreditation Fee. 14. In the interest of transparency, and as a NPO using Public Funds, SAHUC is obliged by law to disclose a Detailed Breakdown of Cost Structure to reach the Accreditation Fee of R1842.23, 15. In the absence of actual figures, we estimate the Cost of taking ONE MISSION worker to be in the region of approx. R58 000-00 – based on info we got from SAHUC over several years. (attached hereto as Annexure B). 16. Based on estimated cost – taking 60x Mission workers will cost – R58 000-00 x 60 = R3 480 000-00 17. Based on estimated cost, taking 25x Mission workers will cost – R58 000-00 x 25 = R1 450 000-00 18. Hence R3.48 million was Budgeted, but the Actual Cost will be R1.45 million 19. Surplus to be Refunded to 2500 SA Hujjaj – R2 030 000-00. (R2030 000-00 divided by 2500 Accredited Hujjaj = R812-00 Refund per Hujjaj). 20. WE HEREBY DEMAND SAHUC REFUND EACH HUJJAJ – R812-00 21. SAHUC SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND REFUND EACH HUJJAJ – R812.00 However, in the history of SAHUC, SAHUC is NOT known for doing the right thing. 22. Instead of Refunding Hujjaj, SAHUC will Bank the Surplus – to grow its Bank balance. WHY WOULD SAHUC BANK FUNDS WHICH BELONG TO HUJJAJ? 23. Head of Mission (Ismail Kholvadia) admitted to Mufti AK – on the flight back from Al-Ansaar Hajj Seminar 2023 – SAHUC had approx. R14 million in its Bank Account (earning interest). 24. Ml. Mohammed Vaid – SAHUC President: 2019 – stated in a Radio Islam interview with Faizal Patel – dated 17 February 2019 – (attached hereto as Annexure C). “The funds that are in SAHUC indirectly belong to the Hujjaj of South Africa and are determined to be used for the benefit of the Hujjaj of the country.” “Ml. Vaid says majority of funds have been used to offset the expenditure of the Mission.” 25. IF Funds rightfully belong to Hujjaj – why is Surplus Funds Banked in SAHUC Bank Account? 26. IF the majority of Funds have been used to offset Expenditure of the Mission, then any SAVINGS FROM THE MISSION NEED TO BE REFUNDED TO HUJJAJ! 27. With the reduced number of Mission workers to 25 in Hajj 2024 – SAHUC will be forced to “serve” SA Hujjaj with 25 workers. 28. This also means in previous years – there was an over-supply of 35 Mission workers – Hujjaj money wasted. 29. We state categorically, majority of Mission workers go for a FREE, PAID “working” holiday. 30. IF Mission workers were sincere in servicing Hujjaj – they would pay for their Flights + Refuse a Stipend – only require SAHUC provide Budget Accommodation in Saudi. 31. Moaaz Cassoo stated at SAHUC Roadshow in Durban, 02 December 2024, is was mandatory for SAHUC to pay a Stipend for working people taking leave from work to be part of Mission. 32. I state categorically, I told both Moosa Seedat + Ismail Kholvadia several times – IF was part of the Hajj Mission – I would pay for my Flights + I did NOT require a Stipend. 33. Both Seedat and Kholvadia rejected this because I would be setting a BAD trend for other Mission workers to follow – those on the SAHUC gravy train – enjoying the perks of a free, paid holiday in Saudi will now have to pay for same. 34. When the Tablighi Jamaat sends Jamaats globally, each individual pays their Flight + there is NO Stipend for those brothers who take 4 months leave from work. 35. IF SAHUC offered Mission workers budget Accommodation ONLY – we estimate SAVINGS of R38000-00 per Mission worker. 36. 25x Mission workers x R38000-00 = R950 000-00 R950 000-00 divided by 2500 Hujjaj = R380-00 REFUND TO EVERY HUJJAJ 37. Hence, the overall Accreditation Fee REFUND to Hujjaj will be as follows –  R812-00 Refund for taking 35 LESS Mission workers  R380-00 Refund for 25 Mission workers paying their Flight + NO Stipend  TOTAL REFUND (R812-00 + R380-00) – R1192-00 TO EACH HUJJAJ  R1842.23 – R1192-00 = R650-23 ACTUAL ACCREDITATION FEE 38. We state categorically, SAHUC SUPPOSE TO CHARGE EACH HUJJAJ R650.23 – AND NOT R1842.23. 39. SAHUC HAS CHEATED SA HUJJAJ BY R1192-00 – IF IT DOES NOT REFUND EVERY HUJJAJ 40. Even the R650-23 has a VAT of R1842.23 – and NOT R650-23 – a further Refund of the VAT calculated on the higher amount is applicable. 41. For Hajj 2023 – the Hajj Ministry initially CLOSED the SAHUC Clinic – proving that there is NO need for this Clinic. 42. When the Clinic was Closed – calls were made to SAHUC to give Hujjaj a Pro-Rata Refund for paying for the services of the Clinic, but NOT receiving Clinic serves in the Kingdom. 43. SAHUC keeps boasting the number of Clinic visits by SA Hujjaj – offering Primary Healthcare to Hujjaj. 44. The ONLY REASON I visited the SAHUC Clinic, was because I felt cheated by the high R1500-00 Accreditation Fee in 2019, and I wanted some value for money paid to SAHUC. 45. In Hajj 2019, when my nephew was dehydrated, SAHUC Clinic simply referred him to the Hospital in Azzizia, where he received health services, at NO cost. 46. Taking my nephew to the hospital in Azzizia was our / Agent responsibility – SAHUC could not even provide transport to the hospital. This is how SAHUC is “serving” Hujjaj, 47. Hujjaj receive FREE Hajj Packs from Must Pharmacies – this is sufficient Primary Healthcare. SAHUC Clinic service is NOT required – but it is offered to justify the high Accreditation Fee 48. SAHUC is run as a business, making the highest Profit per Hajj Mission – offering little to NO real service to SA Hujjaj. 49. IF SAHUC was a concerned with serving Hujjaj, they would NOT be charging ridiculously high Accreditation Fees and banking Surplus Funds which belongs to Hujjaj. 50. Despite SAHUC NOT having a mandate from the South African Muslim Community, to facilitate Hajj on behalf of SA Muslim Hujjaj, for too long, SAHUC has literally gotten away with being a bully and making unreasonable demands to Hujjaj. We hereby give SAHUC ten (10) days to seek legal advice and to confirm that SAHUC will Refund Accredited Hujjaj – R1192-00. Should we not hear from SAHUC within the stipulated period, we will proceed with the issue of summons and filing a Class Action on behalf of 2500 Accredited Hujjaj. Regards GOOLAM RAWAT Tel: 082-952-2938 Email: [email protected] Annexure A Annexure B Annexure C Pilgrims can then pay for their Accreditation Fees Online before the Annexure A Annexure B STEP 4: PAY ACCREDITATION FEES • After a Pilgrim has accepted their accreditation, their Online Portal will be updated, and they will be presented with a Payment screen. ACCREDITATION FEES R1842.23 (INCLD VAT) Cut-Off Date using one of the payment methods. COST PER MISSION WORKER (Estimated Minimum cost per worker SAHUC can supply actual cost) - R17000-00 Flight Hotel R20000-00 R21000-00 Stipend Total R58000-00 Annexure C SAHUC Provides Brief Explanation of Contentious R 1,500 Hajj Registration Fee Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News 17-02-2019 Following the release of The South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC)'s first accreditation list for Hajj 2019/1440, a of number questions have been raised about the R 1,500 registration fee imposed by the hajj body on pilgrims. Sahuc President Ml Muhammad Vaid says no member of the hajj body benefits from the R 1,500 registration fee. MI Vaid says that a few years ago, Sahuc had a negative current balance and actually "The funds that are in Sahuc indirectly belongs to the Hujjaj of South Africa and are determined to be used for the benefit of the Hujjaj of our country. I would like to also place on record, in the budget forecast for the last two years, this fee has been subsidized by Sahuc." MI Vaid says majority of funds have been used to offset the expenditure of the mission. Members of Sahuc have just returned from a protocol mission in the Kingdom of Saudj Arabia where they had a series of discussions with various stakeholders including the Minister of Hajj and the Moassassa in preparation for the upcoming 2019/1440 hajj.