By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to be among thousands of pilgrims attending the church service at Moria, about 25km east of Polokwane in Limpopo.
Thousands of Zion Christian Church (ZCC) faithful are gathered at the church’s headquarters for the first time in nearly five years.
The Easter pilgrimage to Moria for ZCC members resembles the Muslim Hajj.
The church’s Bishop Dr Barnabas Edward Lekganyane will deliver his Easter sermon this afternoon.
The ZCC halted its pilgrimages five years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ZCC spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe says they have barred the setting up of hawkers’ stalls along the R71 in front of the church to ensure road safety.
“The tailored message is to emphasize road safety to all road users including ZCC members who are traveling to and from the conference. Pedestrians should use designated crossings and should be alert at all times. Vendors are not allowed to operate along the R71 between Polokwane and Tzaneen in front of Moria City which starts from Matshelapata to Mpogodiba.”
This year also marked the official rollout of Putco’s new-generation G7 Mercedes-Benz buses, part of its visionary Bus Replacement Programme led by Managing Director FG Pisapia. These modern vehicles provided passengers with enhanced comfort, safety, and reliability.
At the core of the operation was Putco’s state-of-the-art Monitoring Control Centre, which enabled real-time geo-tracking and onboard CCTV surveillance of every bus in the fleet.
This advanced system played a vital role in ensuring efficient coordination, rapid incident response, and overall passenger safety.
Putco has confirmed the safe and successful completion of the first phase of its 2025 Easter pilgrimage operation to Moria, Limpopo, for the annual ZCC pilgrimage
Meanwhile the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPCC) in Kanana City is hosting a mass wedding of over 3000 couples, with some men marrying more than one wife.
Elsewhere Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba has called on political parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) to stop playing dangerous games.
Makgoba said, unless politicians stop playing games of grandstanding and political one upmanship, democratic governance in South Africa is headed for a crisis.
In his Easter sermon, he highlighted global and local crises, including conflict, GBV and political dysfunction.
Makgoba said the account of the resurrection of Christ is a reminder to Christians that Easter brings hope and renewal.