PETITION TO HOLD SAHUC ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS UNLAWFUL CONTROL OVER HAJJ PILGRIMAGE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Date: July 17, 2025, Republic of South Africa
Prepared by: Hajj Watch South Africa, hajjwatchsa@gmail.com

This petition is a unified community demand to restore transparency, accountability, and lawful governance in the administration of Hajj for all South African Muslims.

To: The South African Muslim Community
Subject: A Call for Justice, Accountability, and Transparent Hajj Administration

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

As members of the South African Muslim community, we honour a sacred legacy rooted in justice, dignity, and collective responsibility. However, for far too long, one of Islam’s most sacred obligations—Hajj, the fifth pillar of our faith—has been controlled by an unelected, unaccountable private entity, the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC).
SAHUC has operated without a legal or democratic mandate, positioning itself as the sole regulator of Hajj travel for South African Muslims. This has resulted in a growing list of concerns, including:
•    A persistent lack of financial transparency
•    Unfair and opaque quota allocations
•    Restrictive gatekeeping that prevents ordinary South African Muslims from accessing Hajj
•    Functioning as a de facto cartel, SAHUC misrepresents itself as the sole legitimate authority on Hajj, marginalizing other community-based initiatives and obstructing free access
With the recent launch of the official NUSUK platform by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, it is now evident that SAHUC no longer holds exclusive recognition from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite lacking legal or democratic legitimacy, SAHUC continues to collect funds, issue official statements, and exercise control over Hajj logistics—actions that undermine both civil rights and religious trust 
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, PETITION FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:
Legal intervention: Immediate steps to be taken in the High Court and Constitutional Court to bring an end to SAHUC’s unlawful and unmandated role in regulating Hajj for South African Muslims.
Government accountability: We call on DIRCO to formally confirm it does not endorse or provide any official platform or preferential access to SAHUC over any other Hajj service providers.
SAHUC’s actions may contravene the constitutional rights to religious freedom, administrative justice (Section 33), and freedom of association (Section 18).
Community-driven reform: That the South African Muslim community supports the NUSUK platform, as recognized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, which ensures open access, fairness, and religious integrity. 
We support the establishment of a transparent, community-elected Hajj regulatory body, accountable to the Muslim public and aligned with the principles of shura (consultation) and public trust.
Leadership clarity: That all ulema bodies, Muslim organizations, and community leaders publicly declare their stance on SAHUC’s legitimacy and support the call for transparent, representative Hajj management.
YOUR SIGNATURE IS A STAND FOR JUSTICE
This petition is not symbolic — it is a call to action. By signing, you are contributing to a movement that can restore dignity, fairness, and transparency to the way Hajj is managed in our country.
If you have ever:
• Been denied Hajj access without clear explanation
• Paid excessive, unjustified fees
• Felt voiceless in the current Hajj system
• Or simply believe in justice, inclusion, and integrity—
Then your signature matters. Share this widely, raise your voice, and stand up for a future where the South African Ummah governs its affairs with openness and accountability.
TOGETHER, WE CAN RESTORE THE SANCTITY OF HAJJ IN SOUTH AFRICA
In unity, faith, and service to the truth,
We stand for reform. We stand for justice. We stand together.