31 - Going on the Hajj as a Blind Traveller with Zakariya Moola

Loading player...
Lois Strachan speaks with Zakariya Moola about his experience going on Hajj as a person with a visual impairment.

Zakariya was born in Durban and schooled in Pietermaritzburg. He completed a Bachelor of Social Science degree and has his own business retailing stationery. He has been visually impaired since birth.

Zakariya's first overseas trip was in 1989 when he went to Saudi Arabia for a minor pilgrimage called Umrah, during his December holidays and again in 1993. In 2003 and 2016 he did the Hajj, the major pilgrimage to Mecca. He has also travelled to the UK, Dubai, India, Turkey and Palestine. Lois chats with him about the logistics of how he navigates and the technology he uses when he travels as a person who is blind.

Our service provider spotlight features the I Love Coffee Shop, situated in Cape Town, and run by deaf baristas and chefs.

This episode was edited by Craig Strachan using the Hindenburg Software. Credits read by Musa E Zulu.

Today's quote is by Helen Keller: "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all."
24 Feb 2020 English South Africa Society & Culture · Non-Profit

Other recent episodes

143 - Reframing Disability as a Competitive Advantage with Simalumba Nawa

In this episode, Lois speaks with Simalumba Nawa on the business case for increased inclusion in business. This wide-ranging conversation covers Sima’s story of becoming visually impaired, gaining blindness skills, how he began his work as an inclusion advocate, and some of the work he has done in this space…
27 Jan 50 min

140 - Dr Julie Siemers on Patient Safety During Medical Interventions

In this episode, Lois speaks with Dr Julie Siemers, a specialist in patient safety. So often we hear of patients with disabilities who experience poor communication from medical professionals when undergoing treatments. While talking with Dr Julie, I learned that this form of medical gaslighting is not limited to our…
9 Dec 2025 55 min

139 - My Journey with Chronic Kidney Disease – From Dialysis to Hope

With November being disability awareness month in South Africa and 14 November being the annual day dedicated to recognising those living with diabetes, it seemed an appropriate time to publish this interview. In this special two-part episode, I unpack my journey with chronic kidney disease in conversation with Jeremy Opperman…
25 Nov 2025 51 min