Carlo Petersen
THE annual Tweede Nuwe Jaar festival, traditionally celebrated on January 2, will be celebrated on January 3 next year.
Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association chief executive officer Kevin Momberg confirmed “the minstrels will march on Saturday, no matter what”.
“Even if it is the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday on January 3 we will stop at sunset for Maghrib and then continue after Maghrib,” he said.
Momberg said even if the day of Mawlid is on January 4 or January 5, the minstrels will march on January 3.
The festival is celebrated on January 2 every year, and if it falls on a Friday it is shifted to a Saturday out of respect for the troupes which consist mainly of Muslims.
Friday is a holy day in the Islamic faith, which means Muslims attend mosque for prayer on this day.
Meanwhile, police have reported stabbings and warned of other incidents of crime during minstrels events.
Police spokesman Andre Traut said: “The knife stabbing incidents started in 2007 when a youth was fatally stabbed on the stairs of the St. George’s Cathedral. Nine more stabbings occurred since then.
“None of the victims reported the cases. This is a problem for the police as the perpetrators cannot be taken to court. The victims are either remaining silent out of fear, or are determined to retaliate with violence. Since the 2007 event the incidents keep occurring at these events, or immediately thereafter.”
Cape Town Cluster Commander Jeremy Vearey said:
“Perpetrators will be arrested and brought to justice. The public is encouraged to come forward with information to bring criminals to justice,” he said.