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"title": "Moria becomes the gathering point for politicians seeking blessings ahead of 29 May poll",
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"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The area called Moria, just about 35km from Polokwane, houses the biggest churches in the country and arguably in southern Africa. The churches are part of the Zionist Christian Church (ZCC), but have been split into two sections: the St Engenas and Star groupings. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The St Engenas group held its annual pilgrimage this past weekend to commemorate Easter, which saw tens of thousands of members flocking to Moria for the event, even from other southern African countries such as Eswatini and Botswana.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-10-04-churches-should-welcome-politicians-as-members-and-guests-but-not-as-speakers-of-influence/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Churches should welcome politicians as members and guests but not as speakers of influence</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa attended the church’s Easter Sunday service where he received cheers and applause from churchgoers, who were sitting in rows on the lawn. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/_20v9225/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2115838\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20V9225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /></a> Congregants gathered at the St Engenas Zion Christian Church in Moria on 31 March 2024.(Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the church proceedings were concluded, church leader Bishop Joseph Lekganyane gave Ramaphosa the opportunity to address the crowd consisting of men, women and children of all ages.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Good afternoon Zion congregants, I am here in my own capacity and not as a politician. I want to congratulate you for running for 100 years. I have never seen so many people gathered until today. You all look so beautiful in church uniforms …” he said. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speaking to the media later, Ramaphosa said: “It is always a pleasure to come to ZCC, to come and to join in prayer with the Zionists. For me it is a humbling moment and a moment of great reflection, particularly when you hear the sermon delivered by the bishop, [who] delivered a very important and seminal sermon about practical things on how to take the country forward and how to make sure that our country can move ahead. So, I leave here uplifted, my spirits are high; I am happy to be here.”</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-04-18-politicians-hoping-for-endorsement-from-churches-at-easter-may-find-them-hard-going-on-the-campaign-trail/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As politicians hit the churches this weekend to win endorsement for their crosses, we find that church-based parties are doing better than before</span></a>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2115839\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20V9180.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"471\" /> <em>Julius Malema and his wife, Mantwa Matlala, arrive at the St Engenas Zion Christian Church in Moria on Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his sermon, Lekgayane mentioned that the country had many natural resources and that it should mean everyone was employed. He emphasised the need for the government and citizens to unite in order to run the country efficiently.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It is not only the government that has to do it, the private sector, labour and civil society, that is what the governing party, the ANC, is calling for. Together we can do more and deliver a better life for all,” Ramaphosa said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He added that the ANC was looking to win an outright majority in the upcoming provincial and national elections.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are not in these elections to have coalitions, we are here for an outright majority, so I do not even begin to think about coalitions. They are thought about by those who do not think they are going to be victorious,” he reiterated.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ramaphosa was flanked by the ANC’s head of elections, Mdumiseni Ntuli, Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Mostoaledi as well as mayors of various regions in the province and the ANC’s Limpopo leadership. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-07-31-julius-malema-and-his-extraordinary-fanatical-followers-a-decade-later/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EFF leader Julius Malema </span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">also attended the service with his wife. The party’s head of presidency and MP, Vuyani Pambo, was also present. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malema has a longstanding relationship with the church and has previously attended its services.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malema and Ramaphosa had a short conversation at the end of the service, hugging despite their political differences. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Malema was not given the opportunity to address the congregation, he later thanked Bishop Lekganyane for the service. </span><b>DM </b>",
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"name": "Julius Malema and his wife, Mantwa Matlala, arrive at the St Engenas Zion Christian Church in Moria on Waster Sunday, 31 March 2024. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The area called Moria, just about 35km from Polokwane, houses the biggest churches in the country and arguably in southern Africa. The churches are part of the Zionist Christian Church (ZCC), but have been split into two sections: the St Engenas and Star groupings. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The St Engenas group held its annual pilgrimage this past weekend to commemorate Easter, which saw tens of thousands of members flocking to Moria for the event, even from other southern African countries such as Eswatini and Botswana.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-10-04-churches-should-welcome-politicians-as-members-and-guests-but-not-as-speakers-of-influence/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Churches should welcome politicians as members and guests but not as speakers of influence</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa attended the church’s Easter Sunday service where he received cheers and applause from churchgoers, who were sitting in rows on the lawn. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2115838\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/_20v9225/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2115838\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20V9225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" /></a> Congregants gathered at the St Engenas Zion Christian Church in Moria on 31 March 2024.(Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the church proceedings were concluded, church leader Bishop Joseph Lekganyane gave Ramaphosa the opportunity to address the crowd consisting of men, women and children of all ages.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Good afternoon Zion congregants, I am here in my own capacity and not as a politician. I want to congratulate you for running for 100 years. I have never seen so many people gathered until today. You all look so beautiful in church uniforms …” he said. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speaking to the media later, Ramaphosa said: “It is always a pleasure to come to ZCC, to come and to join in prayer with the Zionists. For me it is a humbling moment and a moment of great reflection, particularly when you hear the sermon delivered by the bishop, [who] delivered a very important and seminal sermon about practical things on how to take the country forward and how to make sure that our country can move ahead. So, I leave here uplifted, my spirits are high; I am happy to be here.”</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more in Daily Maverick:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-04-18-politicians-hoping-for-endorsement-from-churches-at-easter-may-find-them-hard-going-on-the-campaign-trail/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As politicians hit the churches this weekend to win endorsement for their crosses, we find that church-based parties are doing better than before</span></a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2115839\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2115839\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20V9180.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"471\" /> <em>Julius Malema and his wife, Mantwa Matlala, arrive at the St Engenas Zion Christian Church in Moria on Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his sermon, Lekgayane mentioned that the country had many natural resources and that it should mean everyone was employed. He emphasised the need for the government and citizens to unite in order to run the country efficiently.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It is not only the government that has to do it, the private sector, labour and civil society, that is what the governing party, the ANC, is calling for. Together we can do more and deliver a better life for all,” Ramaphosa said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He added that the ANC was looking to win an outright majority in the upcoming provincial and national elections.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are not in these elections to have coalitions, we are here for an outright majority, so I do not even begin to think about coalitions. They are thought about by those who do not think they are going to be victorious,” he reiterated.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ramaphosa was flanked by the ANC’s head of elections, Mdumiseni Ntuli, Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Mostoaledi as well as mayors of various regions in the province and the ANC’s Limpopo leadership. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-07-31-julius-malema-and-his-extraordinary-fanatical-followers-a-decade-later/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EFF leader Julius Malema </span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">also attended the service with his wife. The party’s head of presidency and MP, Vuyani Pambo, was also present. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malema has a longstanding relationship with the church and has previously attended its services.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malema and Ramaphosa had a short conversation at the end of the service, hugging despite their political differences. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Malema was not given the opportunity to address the congregation, he later thanked Bishop Lekganyane for the service. </span><b>DM </b>",
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"summary": "ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and EFF leader Julius Malema were among the politicians who attended the Sunday Easter service of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church in Moria, Limpopo. This is an important way for the parties to ramp up their visibility especially ahead of the 29 May national poll. ",
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Congregants gathered at the St Engenas Zion Christian Church in Moria on 31 March 2024.(Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)
Julius Malema and his wife, Mantwa Matlala, arrive at the St Engenas Zion Christian Church in Moria on Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024. (Photo: Felix Dlangamandla)