JEDDAH: The consul general of South Africa has expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Saudi government for services provided to South African pilgrims.

Mahdi Basullah, consul general of South Africa, made the remarks during a visit to the Tawafa Establishment for Non-Arab African Pilgrims recently. He added that the 5,000 South Africans who come on pilgrimage each year stringently abide to the Kingdom’s Haj rules.

Basullah also met Chariman of the Tawafa Establishment for Non-Arab African Pilgrims Abdul Wahid bin Burhan Seifuddin.

In the meeting, the consul general noted great improvements in the services provided to pilgrims during the past decade and said this was a reflection of the Kingdom’s determination to serve the guests of God in the two holy cities and the holy sites.

He also expressed the gratitude of South African pilgrims for the opportunity to perform the fifth pillar of Islam and said companies providing services to pilgrims from his country and the country’s Haj mission have taken all precautionary measures against the H1N1 virus.

He said his country has organized awareness campaigns and established Internet sites to enlighten pilgrims about Haj regulations in addition to public lectures and talks that are organized long before the Haj season.