PUTCO to Deploy 500 Buses for ZCC Moria Easter Pilgrimage

POLOKWANE – PUTCO will deploy approximately 500 buses for the Zion Christian Church’s (ZCC) Easter pilgrimage to the Holy City of Moria in Limpopo, marking the return of the significant religious event after a five-year hiatus due to Covid-19 restrictions.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, PUTCO revealed that in previous years, up to 800 buses were dispatched for the pilgrimage.

However, this year’s operation will run at around 50% capacity and will be carried out in phases.
All buses serving this year’s pilgrimage will be from PUTCO’s newly upgraded fleet, which features advanced safety and comfort innovations for passengers.

“Additionally, PUTCO has enhanced its technology. The upgraded Monitoring Control Centre now allows for real-time tracking of all buses using advanced GPS and live-feed cameras. This ensures a smooth journey with early alerts and rapid responses to any unusual road situations,” the statement read.

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The operation is scheduled to begin in the early hours of 18 April 2025, with buses departing from various regions across Gauteng and Mpumalanga, and returning on 21 April 2025. Progress updates will be provided from key checkpoints along the way.

The South African Police Service (SAPS), under the leadership of Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, will also implement comprehensive safety measures to protect residents, pilgrims, and businesses during this busy Easter period.

Heavy traffic volumes are anticipated on roads leading to Limpopo during the Easter weekend, as ZCC members return to Moria following the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, which suspended large gatherings for five years.

Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Suzan Mathye, launched the 2025 Easter Road Safety Campaign on Friday at River Cross, near Burgersfort in the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality, under the theme: “It Begins with Me.”

Mathye acknowledged the expected increase in traffic volumes and emphasized the need for intensified road safety measures. “We are anticipating high traffic volumes this year, which is why we’re going back to the drawing board to implement additional safety strategies,” she said.

She added that several accident-prone routes have been identified and will be the focus of road safety operations. These include:

• The N1 between Kranskop and Mokopane, and through Botlokwa
• The R37 in the Burgersfort area
• The R36 between Mokgoloboto and Lenyenye (Greater Tzaneen area)
• The R71 around Paledi Mall in Mankweng
•  The R81 in the Mooketsi area
•  And several others

With thousands of pilgrims expected to make their way to Moria, authorities are urging all road users to exercise caution and cooperate with law enforcement to ensure a safe and incident-free Easter weekend.