Cape Town – The Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations may have gotten the green light, but only half of the minstrels are likely to take part in the annual parade.
The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) on Wednesday revealed to the Daily Voice that they are withdrawing their 36 troupes from the march on Monday, January 2.
CEO Kevin Momberg said the decision was taken after an emergency meeting on Wednesday night with stakeholders.
“We have discussed the matter and the majority has decided that we will not take part in the Tweede Nuwe Jaar march,” he said.
“We are tired of the City messing with our minstrel business and not giving us a chance to do what we need to do to get things done. We would like to let our troupes and supporters know that we will be at the Athlone Stadium on Monday.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the City officially announced that a permit to host the march was awarded to the CTMCA’s rivals, the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Assosiasie (KKKA), a tender worth R1.8 million.
The municipality has also approved the Cape Malay Choir Board’s permit to host the Nagtroepe march on Friday evening, and allocated R760 000 towards the event. The 12th-hour announcements follow weeks of squabbling between the City and the different minstrel organisations.
The City has already cancelled two events – the Voorsmakie on December 17 and the Christmas Choir Bands march on December 24 – due to non-compliance.
The City’s Mayco Member for Tourism, Events and Economic Development, Eddie Andrews, said the KKKA was the only association to request a permit to host Tweede Nuwe Jaar on January 2, the date that the municipality deemed most suitable, as it falls on a public holiday.
He said essential City services, including Traffic, Metro Police and Law Enforcement, would be available “in numbers” to assist the event organiser.
“The Tweede Nuwe Jaar event will take place on Monday January 2, 2017, and the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Assosiasie was granted the hosting rights for the 2017 event,” Andrews confirmed on Wednesday.
“The funding allocation of R1.8m and the event permit have been issued to this organisation and they are responsible for engaging with all of the troupes and boards to ensure mass participation in the event.”
He urged minstrel boards to set aside their difference and show up for the parade.
“We hope that all minstrel organisations will work together to ensure the success of this important cultural highlight for the benefit of all residents and visitors who so look forward to the minstrel events each year,” said Andrews.
The KKKA’s Muneeb Gambeno said that they have extended a second invitation to the CTMCA for Monday’s event.
“All troupes are welcome. This is about our people and our heritage. We have yet to receive a reply from Momberg,” he said on Wednesday night.
Momberg, however, said the decision is final and has booked Athlone Stadium for the CTMCA event.
“As far as I am concerned it is still an illegal march and we got sidelined,” said Momberg.
The CTMCA believes the KKKA cheated on its application form by forging a Western Cape government official's signature.
However, the Western Cape High Court last week found that the document in question was a sample and not an actual application form.