Umrah fees amended

MUSLIM travellers can breathe a sigh of relief as the Umrah visa fees to Saudi Arabia were amended this week.

Hajj pilgrims will now be allowed to travel once a year without paying the 2 000 Saudi Riyals (R7 500) set down by Saudi officials in October.

Only if a traveller wants to perform the Umrah more than once in a Hijri year (Islamic calendar) will he or she have to pay the visa fee for every additional visit.

The Anti-Visa Fee Committee of SA, which comprises concerned citizens and travel agents, said the amendment came into effect last Thursday.

But it said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) fee of R1 600 would still apply.

“Although the visa fee has not been scrapped, this concession is a fair compromise. When the Saudi government implemented the fee, it led to an international outcry. We thank all South Africans for their support in recent weeks,” said the committee.

Fazila Malek, head of SA Muslim Travel Agents (Samta), said: “Samta made representations with the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and the Saudi Arabian government and wishes to place on record our appreciation to both governments for their consideration.

“We are glad South Africans who want to travel for Umrah can do so without the additional financial constraints,” said Malek.

On social media, local Muslims said they, were glad the change had been made. Some started an online petition to have the fees scrapped when they were announced in October.

One Facebook user, Aneesa Hashim, said: “May Allah reward those involved for easing the plight of all South Africans and being the voice for the nameless and unseen thousands who had seen this as an insurmountable hurdle preventing them from fulfilling their aspirations of visiting the holy hand.”

Mohammed Haffejee wrote: “The visa fees were a huge stumbling block for South Africans who wanted to do the pilgrimage. We were being robbed of completing our spiritual journey. Thanks to all who fought for change.”