Cape Town - It’s been just three months since the City of Cape Town signed a “historic” agreement with the minstrels to ensure the smooth running of the annual parades, but the events have been dogged by controversy – including several delays, a complaint to be lodged with the public protector about financial mismanagement and a court interdict to stop illegal back marches in Bo-Kaap.
On Monday the City of Cape Town was set to lodge a formal complaint with the Office of the Public Protector about the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association’s spending of more than R40 million of lottery funding since 2012.
According to a statement issued by the National Lotteries Board, the minstrel association was paid R13.32m in 2012 and 2013 for carnival costs, and R27.32m last year for carnival costs (R14.32m) and the Carnival Heritage Museum (R13m).
The city’s call for a high-level probe of minstrel spending comes just months after it signed an agreement with the newly formed Cape Cultural and Carnival Committee. This committee comprised representatives of the minstrels, including the Cape Minstrel Carnival Association, and Malay bands and choirs.
The city invested more than R3m in the 2014/2015 minstrel events.
Meanwhile, the city was forced to apply for a court interdict on Saturday to stop a back march planned for the same day in the Bo-Kaap following complaints from residents and the Schotschekloof Civic Association. The march marked the end of the annual competition held at Athlone Stadium.
Hout Street resident Ursula Boutry said back marches continued into the early hours of the morning last week.
Smith said the city would consider laying criminal charges in terms of the Regulations of Gatherings Act based on the metro police’s video footage of “illegal street marches”.
Garreth Bloor, mayoral committee member for tourism, events and economic development, said: “As a last resort and preventative measure, the city applied for an urgent interdict to prevent any illegal marches.” He said the court ordered that only five resident troupes from the Bo-Kaap would be allowed to march, and the event was to end before midnight.
Igshaan Higgins, the attorney acting for the minstrel groups, said last night that three groups had violated the conditions of the out-of-court settlement by marching later than agreed on Saturday night.
“We, as the lawyers, have said that we will discipline these teams and take appropriate action. We are very disappointed in these three teams and they will feel the full wrath for their actions.”
Higgins said the minstrel groups had opposed the city’s application for a court interdict on Saturday. But, acting on the recommendation of the judge, the groups agreed to “knock out a settlement” with the city. “This was a positive development as it shows that we need not need the authority of a court to come to a resolution.”
He said while the groups would have liked all the teams that took part in the final competition at Athlone Stadium to march on Saturday, the compromise was that only home teams from the Bo-Kaap could show off their trophies during a march through the area.
The final results of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association at Athlone Stadium:
Super League Results
1. Shoprite Pennsylvanians – 90 points.
2. Santam D6 Entertainers – 73 points.
3. Juvie Boys – 60 points.
4. Orients – 51 points.
5. Heideveld Entertainers – 47 points.
Premier Division
1. Young Woodstock Starlites – 101 points.
2. Spes Bona – 59 points.
3. Ohio Hotshots – 57 points.
4. Lentegeur Crooners – 47 points
First Division
1. Cape Flats – 120 points.
2. Tygerberg – 67 points.
3. Atlantis – 53 points.
Cape Argus