The ZCC has cancelled its annual Moria pilgrimage

The ZCC Church had a momentous and watershed decision when the cancellation of the annual Easter Weekend pilgrimage to the ZCC city of Moria — and indeed other community gatherings was announced earlier this week—it is bound to have rippling effects all-round.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has in recent days declared an embargo against mass gatherings attended by more than 100 people, in response to the potential spread of the corona virus, nudging all sectors of society to
cancel events in coming weeks.

Against this background, Waterberg Taxi Council spokesperson, John Maluleka, said all 21 affiliates of the region would be affected by the developments, with emphasis on transporting the ZCC faithful to Moria.

He was quick to place on record that the Waterberg structure was not about to oppose the President’s declaration, adding the association would instead render its full support to the national fight against the spread of
coronavirus.

“The Waterberg Taxi Association offers its unqualified support to the President in the campaign to save lives,” he said

Attempts to source out information from the ZCC headquarters in Moria came to naught, with sources cautioning that the church leadership was accessible only to church members.

In the Waterberg alone the ZCC has branches in every single town, village and township, numbering several hundred thousand individuals, with most having plans to join the traditional pilgrimage to Moria over the Easter
Weekend.

At the St Engenas chapter of the Zion Christian Church beyond the mountain from Moria, a spokesperson whom we spoke to via telephone on Tuesday 17 March assured The BEAT the relevant authorities would give a statement to
the newspaper. But going to print they have not kept their promise.

Bela-Bela Swiss Mission church elder, Joseph Makhubela, said a collective of all the mainstream places of worship in the town were awaiting direction from the South African Council of Churches ahead of Palm Sunday.

The Palm Sunday street parade in Bela-Bela attracted several hundred church goers from across the ecumenical movement during Easter Weekend last year.

On another level, Waterberg SAB League fixtures has since been kept on ice following a directive from the South African National Football Association.

Taverns across the region are putting in place mechanisms to respond to the President’s call, such as making sure a maximum of only hundred patrons would be allowed in at venues.

— The BEAT