Cape Town - The Economic Freedom Fighters have joined hands with a group of minstrels who have vowed to host their annual carnival at the Florida Stadium in Ravensmead, despite being told by the city to move the event.
In the latest furore to hit minstrel festivities, the EFF has sided with the Cape Minstrels District Board who have been told, at the 11th hour, that they cannot host their carnival at the sports grounds where they have held it for the past four years.
The board is comprised of about 15 troupes who participate in a carnival held on January 1, 10, 17 and 31.
The city has offered two alternative venues –
the Rosina Paarwater Stadium in Bellville South and Erica Park in Belhar, which one of the organisers welcomed – but the board remains obdurate.
Garreth Bloor, mayoral committee member for tourism, events and economic development, said the infrastructure at both venues was suitable for minstrel events. Two years ago the event coincided with a “critical maintenance period” at Florida Park, and it is understood the city’s objection to the use of the stadium is also because of maintenance.
At a press conference on Monday, EFF members said plans to host the event at the Florida Stadium were submitted in February, but the board heard in the first week of this month that Florida Stadium was unavailable.
Holding the event in Bellville would mean several logistical, cost and transport implications for the organisers.
Bernard Joseph, provincial chairman of the EFF, said the city should be held accountable, adding the move was a “clear indication that the city wants to take the culture away”.
“Enough is enough… the Cape District Minstrels are nobody’s fools,” he said.
“To change the venue at such a late stage is a clear indication that the decision was made to undermine the festival, and the culture of so-called people of colour. Such nonsense would not have been tolerated if it was a wine fest or the much celebrated Bastille Festival in Franschhoek.”
Shahieda Thole, director of the Cape Minstrels District Board, has refused to move the event. “I told them it’s not an option because Bellville is too small.”
Naym Hendricks, secretary of the board, said they were to meet relevant parties at the Bellville police station today, and would emphasise that they were not prepared to move to Bellville. Even if they had to break through locked gates, they would host their event at Florida Stadium.
Bloor said the Sport Recreation and Amenities Department had received several applications from Minstrels and Malay Choirs to host events during the holidays, and this became “challenging” as the city needed to accommodate resident sports clubs.
Bloor acknowledged that historically and traditionally, minstrel events played an important role within communities.
As a solution for the future, he said, the department would rotate the use of the facilities to ensure a cycle of rehabilitation and rest for the stadiums.
Cape Argus