The UN officially declared a famine in Gaza on August 22, blaming the "systematic obstruction" of aid by Israel during more than 22 months of war.
Image: AFP
It is deeply upsetting that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has shown minimal concern over the ongoing genocide in Gaza, where thousands of innocent lives, including children, have been lost, yet finds it necessary to intervene in the travel arrangements of 2,500 South African Hajj pilgrims.
This selective outrage raises serious questions about the DA’s moral compass. While the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine unfolds, the party directs its attention toward a matter long managed by credible, community-driven structures with decades of experience.
I urge the DA to revisit the historical context behind the formation of the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC).
As recalled by respected community elder Advocate Sheriff Mohamed, it was in the early democratic years that then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad, convened a meeting with Muslim organisations. He called for the establishment of a unified Hajj mission to serve South African pilgrims, an initiative that led to SAHUC’s formation in 1995.
SAHUC was established to safeguard the interests of pilgrims through effective coordination, representative leadership, and transparent oversight. Any future engagement must remain true to this founding vision.
The DA would also benefit from studying the book The Cape Hajj Traditions: Past and Present by Mogamat Hoosain Ebrahim.
I call on the DA to approach such matters with contextual understanding, an awareness of profit-driven dynamics, historical consciousness, integrity, and consistency.
MOHAMED SAEED
Pietermaritzburg