All South African attending religious services during the Easter weekend should observe public health protocols to avoid spreading the coronavirus, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said.
The president made the advice in view of the religious festivities starting on Friday among the country’s Christian faithful who attend Easter weekend church services in larger numbers than during ordinary weekend worshipping sessions.
“This is also a time when large numbers of travellers will be on our roads. I call on those who will be making journeys at this time to travel safely and obey the rules of the road,” Ramaphosa said in his Easter message.
Christians around the world are commemorating events that resulted in the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday, which will be observed on 3 April in this country.
“The Easter message of hope, courage and triumph over darkness is deeply inspiring, and particularly poignant at a time when we are still in the shadow of a deadly pandemic,”Ramaphosa said.
He thanked the leadership of the faith community for working with his government to ensure that all the necessary health protocols would be followed during their upcoming services.
“In offering our best wishes to our Christian compatriots at this time of great meaning and spiritual significance, it is our collective hope that the rebirth symbolised by Easter may also ring true for our country and our nation,” the South African leader said.
NM/jn/APA