“Prayer Service” at the Mmabatho Stadium on Sunday at 14h00.

Media Advisory

6 May 2010

Public Works, Roads and Transport MEC, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng issues caution to road users as thousands prepare to converge on Mafikeng this weekend for a "Prayer Service" at the Mmabatho Stadium on Sunday at 14h00.

All faith-based organisations and residents of the province across the board are invited to a weekend "Prayer Service" at the Mmabatho Stadium in Mafikeng on Sunday, 9 May.

More than 60 000 worshippers are expected to converge in Mafikeng for the prayer service on Sunday but several hundreds of worshippers from outside the province, may start arriving to set-up camps in the vicinity of the Mmabatho Stadium from today, Thursday. Huge arrivals are expected from Saturday night until midday on Sunday.

We wish to make an appeal to worshippers planning to travel to Mafikeng to be extremely cautious on some of our roads, and if possible to use alternative roads due to road works, particularly the Koster to Lichtenburg Road.

* Travelling from Polokwane Mpumalanga and parts of Gauteng North, we would strongly advise worshippers to avoid at all cost, the Koster to Lichtenburg.
* Travelling from Gauteng South - Johannesburg, Soweto and the East and Far East-Rand (Ekurhuleni) drive with extreme caution because of ongoing road works on the N14 between Krugersdorp and Ventersdorp.
* The same should also apply on the road between Lichtenburg and Mafikeng.
* Expected traffic volumes using the N18 from Kimberly and Vryburg side should be cautious of stray animals on that road, especially at night.
* We would also appeal to all road users to be patient and cautious after the prayer service as we expect a serious grid on all exit roads from Mafikeng as worshippers would be leaving almost simultaneously in rush to go back to their respective homes.

Enquiries:
Matshube Mfoloe
Cell: 082 305 4594

Issued by: Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, North West Provincial Government
6 May 2010

Illona