The first group of 120 South African pilgrims will arrive at Madinah International Airport on Saturday, South African Consul General Ebrahim Edries announced this here.
Traditionally, South African pilgrims have been among the first to arrive in the Kingdom to perform Haj, and the first to depart, he said.
Edries said some South African pilgrims were disappointed they had their Haj accreditation withdrawn at the last minute, but understood it was done because of the expansion under way at the Grand Mosque.
He said many hope now that a larger Haj contingent would be allowed into the Kingdom next year.
He said South African pilgrims have an unblemished record in not having recorded any overstayers. This was testament to the excellent cooperation and assistance developed over many years between the South African Haj and Umrah Council, now renamed Office of Haj Affairs of South Africa, and the Moassasa under the leadership of Sheikh Abdul Wahid Saifudeen, and Office No. 1 under the leadership of the Qattan brothers.
Edries thanked the Saudi leadership including Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the crown prince and the Makkah governor for initiating improvements in Makkah and helping pilgrims successfully complete their rituals.
South African pilgrims will travel to the Kingdom on commercial flights. About 90 percent will travel directly to Madinah and then proceed to Makkah. They will later move to Aziziyah to prepare for the culmination of Haj on the plains of Arafat.
S. African pilgrims arrive today
