Ramaphosa gives praise and worship the green light over Easter

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday evening that praise and worship could go ahead this coming weekend. 

The Easter holiday is among the busiest in the country, with millions of churchgoers making their way on various pilgrimages across the country.   

But last year’s holiday was called off over concerns of the rapid spread of Covid-19. 

Ramaphosa said religious leaders had made a compelling case for services to go ahead. 

“In recent weeks, we have held consultations with faith communities to find mutually beneficial solutions to the challenges of managing large crowds at religious services. Following this consultation, it has been determined that religious gatherings over this period will be restricted to a total number of 250 people indoors and 500 outdoors,” said Ramaphosa. 

“Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used.” 

Despite the eased restrictions, Ramaphosa said the floodgates were not open.  

“Congregants should not gather outside their usual places of worship, and people must go home and not sleep over after services.”

He further cautioned that the risk of a super-spread event had not been ruled out.  

“The reality is that greater movement of people, interprovincial travel, greater use of public transit and gatherings present a great risk of an increase in infections.” 

Last week the religious sector vowed to ensure a high compliance of regulations during the busy Easter period.  

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