Limpopo roads prepare for Easter rush
Thousands of ZCC members are expected to converge on Moria from April 3-6, with buses already dispatched from Seshego and Mankweng.
POLOKWANE – Traffic volumes are expected to peak from Thursday through Monday as people from other provinces and countries enter and exit Limpopo for tourism and pilgrimage services to celebrate Easter.
The Department of Transport this week launched its ‘Operation Malayisha’ campaign, targeting overloaded long-distance vehicles such as buses, taxis and trucks.
MEC Violet Mathye made the following statement: “From Cape Town to Limpopo, overloading must end”.
She also urged all road users, including motorists and pedestrians, to exercise patience and caution to minimise crashes that often occur during congested periods.
Zion Christian Church (ZCC) spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe said thousands of branches across the world are preparing for the annual Easter pilgrimage to be held in Moria from April 3-6.
He confirmed high traffic volumes are expected along major routes such as the N1 and R71 linking Polokwane to Boyne.
Buses have already been dispatched from Seshego, Mankweng (Toronto) and Mentz, as smaller vehicles are not permitted.
The St Engenas Church could not be reached for comment.
Mathye said all weighbridge staff are on high alert and working with authorities from neighbouring provinces.
She was speaking during the launch of the 2026 Easter Road Safety Campaign in Mokopane on Monday. “Drivers of buses and taxis must ensure that all vehicles are roadworthy, compliant and operated safely, as many commuters will rely on public transport during the Easter period,” she said.
She added that 24-hour visible patrols have been intensified, particularly along the N1 from Maubane to Beitbridge, as well as other high accident zones including the N11, R81, R71, D4040, R36, R523 and R524.
Other high-risk routes include the N1 from Gauteng through Bela-Bela, Mokopane and Polokwane towards Zimbabwe, as well as the R101, R36, R37, R40 and R579, where increased law enforcement visibility will be deployed.
The province recorded 13 fatalities over the 2025 Easter weekend, a major decline compared to 81 in 2024. Last year’s Easter period saw no major crashes on the N1 and no pedestrian fatalities on the R71, a route typically prone to such incidents.
“At this stage last year, 55 crashes had been recorded, including 11 fatal crashes resulting in 12 fatalities. These are not merely numbers. They represent lives lost and families left devastated,” Mathye said.
