Umrah update: The findings of a month long investigation into Gaironiesa Foundation and Lamy Travel will be revealed at a press briefing at Burney Lodge in Rondebosch East on Saturday at 11am. The enquiry was initiated by Hajj Watch to find out what went wrong between the foundation and the travel operator, which lead to dozens of umrah trips being cancelled on the last minute. More than 100 pilgrims who had paid in full for their travel packages were distraught to learn that they would not be undertaking the holy journey over the December/January period, a peak time for family umrah trips. Two essential questions are at the core of the investigation: why mu’tamireen required additional monies to perform the minor pilgrimage after paying the Gaironiesa Foundation in full for their package; and why they were denied travel due to the non-payment by the Gaironiesa Foundation. Lamy Travel claims the Gaironiesa Foundation owes R2.4 million to the travel agency for arranging the logistics for this umrah trip. The Gaironiesa Foundation is a non profit organisation that organises subsidised haj and umrah for the less-fortunate. The total cost of all umrah packages for the Gaironiesa Foundation’s clients was settled at R4 million, of which only R1.6 million was paid. However, founder Shaheed Stakala insists that all agreed upon funds owed to Lamy Travel were paid. At a community meeting last Sunday, Stakala promised that monies owed to mu’tamireen that did not depart for umrah would be reimbursed. Attendees at Saturday’s meeting will be Hajj Watch chairperson Jakes Rawat, Consumer Fair national advocacy director Imraahn Mukkaddam, Lamy SA Travel chief financial officer Gamiem Toufie and Gaironiesa Foundation founder Shaheed Stakala. All affected mu’tamireen and community members interested in this case are urged to attend. VOC
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 12:12:31 +0000
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