Three part national prayer service for the N1 to take place tomorrow

POLOKWANE – The MEC for Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo, Makoma Makhurupetje says due to the number of fatalities that have been experienced lately, the province has taken a decision to partner with national government and faith-based organizations to pray for an end to road accidents and fatalities on the N1 road.

The Premier of Limpopo and the National Minister of Transport will tomorrow, 18 November,  join church leaders and congregations in praying for the N1 road.

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“It is our hope and belief that praying for this road and other roads will serve to release divine power to arrest the ongoing series of carnages from rising any further. The Prayer Service will also serve to invite divine intervention as we head towards the festive period. We believe these carnages can be stopped if we ask God for intervention but also if we change our own behaviour,” Makhurupetje said.

She added that the involvement of faith based organisations in road safety campaigns is crucial if the department and the province wants to win the war against fatalities.

“The stakeholders that have partnered with us include freight and truck companies, taxi organisations, car dealers, bus companies, church organisations and congregations, the SABC and all radio stations, business people, political organisations, and trade unions. These stakeholders support our call for a Day of Prayer and will join us on Sunday as we pray for an end to road carnages. Our call for a prayer service is not a once off activity. This must be seen as part of an ongoing effort by government and civil society to help raise awareness against road fatalities all year round,” she added.

The three part programme will run as follows:

At 08:00 on Sunday morning, church leaders and political leaders will start off by leading cleansing prayers at identified spots where accidents have occurred in the last two months. They will also be joined by representatives of the families of the deceased.

The cleansing service shall be followed by a prayer service at Ephraim Mogale stadium in Modimolle. This is where we expect the masses and all our stakeholders to join us in prayer. At the main event, the Premier of the province will give an opening address which will then be followed by messages of support after-which, the National Minister of Transport Dr Blade Nzimande will then give the main address of the day.

After political speeches have been given, church leaders will then conduct the liturgy, which will include praise and worship, a sermon and a prayer service, including the following prayers: 

• Confession and repentant prayer calling the nation to turn to God
• A prayer to remember all victims of road accidents and their families
• A prayer for an end to road accidents on the N1 and in other roads
• A prayer for EMS workers, traffic officers and other law enforcement officers and their families and
• A prayer for a peaceful and restive festive season.

“Praying on that day does not mean that road users must stop obeying the rules of the road. It does not mean that we should continue to drive recklessly as we have been doing in the past. It does not mean that we should continue driving unroadworthy vehicles. It does not mean we must speed, drink and drive and continue overloading our vehicles. We must continue to obey the rules of the road and ensure that road users including pedestrians are roadworthy in terms being fit and healthy to use the road,” she added.

Communities within Limpopo are invited to the Day of Prayer and Makhurupetje says those who would not be able to join us on Sunday must still pray in their different churches.

“Our overall focus as church leaders and the Department of Transport is to save lives,” she concluded.

raeesak@nmgroup.co.za