The first group of pilgrims have officially left Cape Town to participate in this year’s hajj.

Speaking to Radio 786, emotional hujaaj say they feel as if God has hand-picked them to perform one of the five pillars of Islam.

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, South African pilgrims were confronted with various challenges such as the strict conditions that they needed to meet before getting clearance to enter Saudi Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the South African Hajj and Umrah Council’s (SAHUC) provincial chair, Mohammed Groenewald says that there have been several challenges that had to be overcome including the reduced numbers for non-Saudis to participate this year.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the Hajj regulations, quotas, and age limit for hujaaj.