Cape Town - Cape Minstrels’ fans, some of whom have been camping in the CBD for up to four days to secure a prime spot for the annual parade, have been left bitterly disappointed after the the Cape Cultural and Events Carnival Committee cancelled the event at the last minute on Sunday.
The Tweede Nuwejaar minstrel parade, which attracts about 60 000 spectators, had already been moved once and the latest postponement has sparked a war of words between organisers and the City of Cape Town.
Kevin Momberg, chief executive of the Cape Cultural and Events Carnival Committee, told a press briefing in Wetton on Sunday that most of their teams could not secure transport.
He added that the city did not support the committee.
“Initially we had logistics in place for January 3, but changed it for the city manager and mayor.
“When they changed the date they said don’t worry they will assist us, but they did not.”
He added that Golden Arrow had no buses available because it was a normal working day.
Logistics include fencing, parking for VIPs and space for vendors.
“We are cancelling, not because we want to but because we want to improve on it and make it much better than previous years.
“We apologise to the public and the people who already sat waiting today. There is nothing that we can do about it.”
“The parade will most likely take place on Saturday 10 - it hasn’t been confirmed yet though.”
Saturday is also the date for the ANC’s 103rd birthday celebrations to be held at Cape Town Stadium.
Richard Stemmet, chairman of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association, said it cost R3 000 to R 3500 to rent a Golden Arrow bus and R4 000 to R4500 for a private bus.
“We can’t go ahead with the march if only 10 percent have buses. We need 80 more buses.”
He claimed that they had talks with the city a week earlier but they didn’t get back to them.
But mayor Patricia De Lille said the city had given the committee R2 million to organise the events, along with city support services valued at R1.65m, while the province gave R2.35m.
“The city has been informed via media reports that the annual minstrel parade, which was set to take place tomorrow, January 5, has been cancelled.
“We have not been officially informed.
“If they are blaming the city in any way for the cancellation of tomorrow’s [Monday] march then they are liars.”
“The agreement states that they as the newly formed committee are the event organisers and that it is their responsibility to ensure that all relevant preparations are in place for the events to take place successfully.”
De Lille added that the responsibility rested solely with the committee to ensure the events took place and the money was used to ensure it took place successfully.
“The city signed the agreement with the committee and we have kept to our end of the agreement.”
Desmond October, 63, who has been camping in Darling Street since 6am on Sunday, said it was unfair that they were not informed.
“We come here every single year, since I was a toddler, this is our culture.
“Why didn’t they let people know this morning [Sunday]?
“What will tourists do who came here specially for this?”
Sonia Nicholas, 37, said she was extremely upset because they had to fork out more money to go home and return on Saturday.
“It’s like a bomb dropped on us. Nobody told us anything, we are very upset.”
Sadia Agulhas, 49, from Manenberg had been camping with her grandchildren and friends since Thursday.
“We arrived here on Thursday morning to keep our place for tomorrow [Monday]. I don’t think it’s right to cancel an event a few hours before the time. I’m doing this for my children and grandchildren.”
Rudewaan Johnson, a stallholder, said it cost him R1 200 to set up in Darling Street - money which he had now wasted. “How will I make that money up again?”
Angry members of the public marched to the steps of the City Hall to try to find answers to the sudden cancellation.
Cape Argus