The Zion Christian Church (ZCC) has called off it’s annual mass pilgrimage to Moria in Limpopo due to the spread of the coronavirus.
The church has suspended all choirs, meetings and gatherings until further notice, as well as the Easter service which would have taken place between 10 April (Good Friday) and 12 April (Easter Sunday) this year.
The Good Friday service attracts gargantuan crowds of more than four million people, and on Sunday 15 March, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster and prohibited the gathering of crowds of more than 100 people.
ZCC: ‘Appeal to obey our instruction’
In a statement from the church, ZCC said that the event may be held at a later date.
“Writing on behalf of His Grace Bishop Bishop BE Lekganyane together with the council of his office,” read the statement, “We would like to let you know that from the weekend of 21 to 22 March, the church choir and (mekhukhu), that were supposed to help with the church service preparations on the weekend of 28 to 29 March 2020, along with the Sunday school members and all church singers, that they should not come to Moria until further notice.
“We appeal that you obey our instruction and wait for further instruction from Moria. We hope that you will peacefully accept our notice.”
This comes after Limpopo recorded its first case of COVID-19, a 28-year-old doctor who travelled to Europe (France, Spain and Netherlands). The doctor is currently in self-quarantine and the Health Department confirmed that they are in contact with him and have started the process of contact referencing to ensure the containment of the virus.
Health minister invited to church
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize was invited to the church last Friday, which resulted in him leading a delegation to address churchgoers on Tuesday 17 March, informing them of the risks associated with the mass meeting.
Spokesperson Emanuel Motolla said that the event would be called off so as not to risk anyone’s lives.
“A total of 10 million members are spread across southern Africa and Europe, especially the United Kingdom which is a popular transit point for citizens of the European Union – the epicentre of the pandemic outside China.
Source: The South African Read More“On average, 10 million ZCC members gather in Moria for the Easter weekend pilgrimage every year, and as a church we do not want to risk their lives or do anything that may escalate the spread of the pandemic,” Motolla said.
