For the fourth year in a row, there will again be no annual Easter pilgrimage at the main branch of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) in Moria outside Polokwane in Limpopo. The religious gathering at one of Africa's largest churches with over 12 million members last had their pilgrimage in 2019 amid the increase of Covid-19 cases in March 2020.

NOT READY FOR EASTER PILGRIMAGE 

According to sources at the church, branches were only allowed to open on 11 February 2024 after a four-year break. "The church is not ready to host millions of people because branches were only opened last month. They will have to clean the whole area, and stock for the shops at Moria. This would have put too much pressure on the church as it was a short time between opening the branches and the main branch,' the source said, adding that the church communicated that they would have their annual New Year celebration which is celebrated on 1 September. The church spokesperson, Reverend Ephraim Mafetsa, could not be reached for a comment. The man who answered the phone introduced himself as Mafetsa's personal assistant but did not want to give his name but confirmed that there will be no pilgrimage this year. "If we were open, you would have received a media statement."

FACTION TO HAVE THEIR PILGRIMAGE 

The church's fiction, the St Engenas ZCC branch will have their annual mass gathering tomorrow in Podungwane. The branch held their first gathering for the first time last year since 2019 with President Cyril Ramaphosa in attendance. The St Engenas Zion Christian Church and the nearby Zion Christian Church (ZCC) are two different churches, situated adjacent to each other at Bone village, Zion City Moria. These churches have some of South Africa's biggest followings and memberships. Before the 2020 Covid-19 outbreak, both churches were a place of pilgrimages for millions who used to attend Easter church services. The Zion Christian Church has a star on its badge while the St Engenas Zion Christian Church has a symbol of a dove on its badge. 

TRAFFIC VOLUME INCREASING 

The suspension of the ZCC annual pilgrimage during Easter weekend has seen a drop in traffic volumes on routes leading to Moria over the past four years. Limpopo Department of Transport spokesperson Tidimalo Chuene said earlier today that traffic volumes are expected to increase significantly on major routes, including the N1 and R101, northbound from Gauteng towards Polokwane, and business districts across the province today. "Traffic law enforcement officers have been deployed at critical points to manage the flow of traffic and curb traffic violations,' she said. Chuene urged motorists to drive with caution, be courteous to each other and maintain a safe following distance at all times.