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JEREMY MAGGS: Let’s transition from agriculture to tourism. This Easter weekend, Limpopo is preparing for a wave of visitors—prompted not by rain, but by a surge of people. Over 1.5 million pilgrims are traveling to churches and religious sites across the province, in addition to a multitude participating in football matches, marathons, and music festivals.
The Limpopo Tourism Agency reports that all necessary preparations are in place to host the numerous guests, supported by new infrastructure and promotional initiatives designed to transform brief spiritual visits into extended tourism experiences.
However, as chalets fill and activities thrive, significant concerns linger. Is Limpopo truly ready for such a substantial influx? Will the current infrastructure and emergency services be sufficient? Furthermore, are local communities genuinely benefiting, or is it merely enhancing the province’s aesthetic?
Joining us now is Moses Ngobeni, the CEO of the Limpopo Tourism Agency. Mr. Ngobeni, welcome! Can you affirm whether the province is pushing its limits with this Easter tourism drive, or are you equipped to handle this volume?
MOSES NGOBENI: Thank you, Jeremy, and to our listeners. Yes, we are well-prepared as a province. This is an event we’ve been eagerly looking forward to for some time. As Easter approaches, we ready the industry because these individuals will be the ones welcoming our visitors.
Just yesterday, the MEC for the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Tshitereke Matibe, launched a new lodge at Nylsvlei Nature Reserve, recognized as one of the international Ramsar sites. This addition supports our accommodation capacity.
Additionally, we have collaborated with all tourist attractions, tour operators, and guides. These key players enable us to confidently announce that Easter is upon us, thus ensuring we are prepared to handle it as a province. We are ready, Jeremy.
JEREMY MAGGS: Logistics will always present challenges. I’m contemplating elements like roadways, hospitals, and overall safety systems. Hosting 1.5 million people over four days is a considerable undertaking. Do you have concrete strategies to manage traffic congestion and emergency responses, especially in pilgrimage areas?
MOSES NGOBENI: Absolutely. In terms of the pilgrimage, the Department of Transport and Community Safety has made thorough preparations. They have stationed traffic officials at strategic junctions along the N1 and other roads from Vhembe and Mopani Districts converging into Polokwane to ensure smooth traffic flow and minimize congestion.
Moreover, we are also anticipating a significant number of residents returning from Gauteng. Our province hosts many returning residents from that area.
Furthermore, for travelers heading to their destinations, being conveniently located near Gauteng makes Limpopo an attractive weekend getaway choice. For example, the Waterberg area is less than an hour from Pretoria, presenting numerous options for visitors.
JEREMY MAGGS: That sounds promising, but how do you ensure that local enterprises, small businesses, and surrounding communities benefit—not just from a major event but also economically and sustainably from the anticipated influx?
MOSES NGOBENI: We have placed considerable emphasis on what we term our events strategy within the MICE [meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions] framework. We are connecting with all vendors, particularly those involved in general trading and selling fruits. During this season, we encourage visitors to leave with citrus fruits abundantly found in Limpopo—there’s no need to purchase them at the Joburg market.
We motivate these vendors to capitalize on opportunities during peak seasons like Easter and significant events such as the pilgrimage this weekend. These entrepreneurs are ready.
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Moreover, in communities surrounding the two ZCC [Zion Christian Church] churches, we’ve engaged locals to offer their homes for camping, complete with basic facilities and ablution services. This allows them to earn income while providing a safer option for visitors compared to roadside parking.
JEREMY MAGGS: I’m intrigued by the notion of transforming pilgrims into leisure tourists. Is this a feasible strategy, or merely a marketing tactic from your agency?
MOSES NGOBENI: [Chuckle] Jeremy, this is definitely not a marketing gimmick; it’s a realistic approach. We have established effective strategies. If you visit our website, you’ll see that as part of this Easter campaign, we’ve curated affordable products and suggested destinations to explore.
We’ve also compiled a list of events occurring throughout the province, making it easy for travelers to access these attractions while journeying to or from the pilgrimage.
We’re working with a team at Kranskop to distribute pamphlets detailing the activities we’ve organized. This way, if visitors want to explore before or after the pilgrimage, they have those options readily available.
Additionally, we’re raising awareness about attractions located just behind the ZCC within the escarpment. For instance, the ‘foefie’ slides near Magoebaskloof are less than 30 km away from the two main churches. These initiatives are part of our efforts, Jeremy, to convert pilgrims into tourists as well.
JEREMY MAGGS: What are the projected financial benefits for the province over the next four days?
MOSES NGOBENI: We will evaluate that as well. After each major event, we conduct a thorough analysis. Last year, although we were still recovering, both churches were operational and drew considerable numbers. During that weekend, we generated over R50 million in trade, and we anticipate even greater figures this time around.
JEREMY MAGGS: Moses Ngobeni, thank you very much, and best of luck. He’s the CEO of the Limpopo Tourism Agency.
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