Cape Town - The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association is seeking an urgent court interdict to retain control of the annual Kaapse Klopse or minstrel parade.
And it insists that this latest dispute with the City of Cape Town is not about funding, but about who should manage the iconic event that traditionally takes place on January 2.
Advocate Shaid Bruinders confirmed on Wednesday that the association was busy with an application to stop Bharooch Event Styling and Management from running the parade, which is scheduled for January 4.
Mayor Patricia De Lille said this week that more than 75 percent of the organisations involved agreed to the city’s conditions and signed an agreement on December 3. Only the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association, representing about 33 of the troops expected to take part, did not sign.
De Lille said this was despite three attempts to get them on board. Negotiations started in April in a bid to minimise any potential conflict.
The city provides R3.5 million worth of logistical and support services to ensure the event runs smoothly. De Lille said it became clear during discussions that the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association wanted to have this money paid directly to them so they could organise it themselves.
But Bruinders refuted this, saying: “It is not accurate to say that we want more funding. It’s about the fairness of appointing a company that does not have the same experience and infrastructure as my client.
The city’s executive director for tourism, events and marketing Anton Groenewald said on Wednesday that the council had not yet been served with papers. Despite being given more than two weeks additional time to change its position, the association had refused to budge.
However, Groenewald remained optimistic that the impasse could be resolved.
About 20 000 people are expected to take to the streets on January 4, just days after Cape Town’s official launch as the World Design Capital 2014.
* In the article, “Troupes stand firm on money”, it was reported that the Cape Minstrel Carnival Association represents more than half of those expected to take part in the parade. The association, with 33 troupes, in fact represents just under half the 75 troupes expected to participate. The Cape Argus regrets the error.
Cape Argus