One of two splinter groups of the church, whose members' attire included a star sign or star symbol, had halted its mass gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Nearby, members from the other splinter group of the church, the Saint Engenas ZCC, who are known for the dove symbol, held their own separate Easter conference, and in preparation, hundreds of busses ferried church members to both headquarters, in the town of Moria, outside the city of Polokwane.

Most routes in the province have been carrying high traffic volumes as ZCC and St Engenas ZCC pilgrims converge at the headquarters, in the town of Moria, for the Easter conferences. Holiday makers were also making their way to various destinations in the province. Inside the ZCC headquarters, a sea of buses could be seen on Friday as church activities were well underway.

Outside both premises of ZCC and St Engenas ZCC churches, police were monitoring to ensure the safety of the pilgrims, as well as general members of the public. Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant Thembi Hadebe said efforts were made to beef up security.

“We've tightened all the security measures in terms of ensuring that pilgrimage is already secured in according to our prescripts of making sure that there's no eventuality that takes place in terms of security measures in the perimeters of the ZCC church has been well taken care by the church itself we've done inspection in the perimeters of the two churches and we're satisfied about all security measures”, Hadebe said.

Started in 1925 by late founder, Engenas Lekganyane, the ZCC church has grown to become the largest African-initiated church in Southern Africa, boasting over 12 million followers. In preparation for the Easter weekend, police, traffic police and the emergency services personnel were deployed to routes across the province, with law enforcers warning that motorists who do not follow the rules of the road, will face the full might of the law.

In keeping to that promise, police arrested the driver of a Polo sedan on the N1 road, near the town of Mokopane, after he was caught driving at a speed of 214 km-per-hour on a 120-km-per-hour zone. The Head of  Provincial Traffic Police, Simon Kekana has warned to abide by the law.

“We nabbed a boy who was doing 214, general which is unacceptable, so some people they take an advantage at the age of 25, he was doing 214 and we were able to nab him”, Kekana said.

The suspected speedster was detained by police and was expected to appear before the local Mokopane Magistrate's Court after the Easter long weekend

---SABC---