Traffic surges as ZCC pilgrims head home

Thousands of members of the Zion Christian Church and Saint Engenas ZCC started leaving Moria outside Polokwane on Sunday afternoon. This follows the annual Easter sermons delivered by the bishops of both churches.

The pilgrimage to Moria is a significant event on the churches’ calendars, drawing worshippers from countries across Southern Africa.

Traffic volumes surged on major provincial roads, including the R71 from Moria, the N1 South, and the R101.

The sermons delivered by the bishops mark the culmination of the Easter pilgrimage, signalling a time for reflection, prayer, and spiritual renewal for its members.

President Cyril Ramaphosa also visited the ZCC under the leadership of Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane.

WATCH: Thousands of ZCC members to head home after Easter service

The CEO of the Limpopo Tourism Agency, Moses Ngobeni, says the pilgrimage is an important economic tourism booster for the province.

“We have been seeing lots of people coming here. And as I indicated earlier on, as we’re having a chat, yesterday, I went past Moria just to check whether the 60% that they spoke about in the other church that did not open last year is true. But when you look outside, you look at the camping around that church, and you also look at the Saint Engenas; it is full. It’s not only Limpopo or South Africa, but it’s people from Botswana, people from Zimbabwe, Zambia, you know, Namibia, that have come here, Cape Town, you know, all the other provinces. So they will be buying fruits, and we are happy as a province.”

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa will provide traffic updates at Kranskop Toll Plaza on the N1 on Monday.

Meanwhile, Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato will lead law enforcement operations at the Beitbridge border post in Musina on Monday and Tuesday.