Cape Town Minstrels rally against venue disputes before Tweede Nuwe Jaar parade

A long-running dispute between the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) and the City of Cape Town came into sharp focus on Saturday when members of the association joined a protest march in the city, citing uncertainty over venues and frustration at the City’s decision to appeal a recent High Court ruling.

CTMCA manager Yagya Canfield said the protest coincided with Tweede Nuwe Jaar and reflected growing disillusionment among troupes affected by delays and legal battles.

“It is one day that we are celebrating but what the City is currently doing is not postponing but appealing against orders that the judges made against them and posing for relief and pushing us back to what we are really standing for,” Canfield said.

He explained that the association had originally planned activities for January 2, but these were complicated by a holy day for Muslims.

“It is supposed to be on the second but because of the religious day on Friday, we would have started after 2pm, to have the street available to us. This was declined when we applied,” he said.

Unable to proceed, the CTMCA opted to participate in a permitted protest instead. Canfield said the ongoing uncertainty had already had financial consequences.

“The saddest part of everything has been the difficulty of knowing and the unknowing whether we will or won’t play. Unfortunately, we have lost so many teams that are affiliated with us and couldn’t keep up with the expenses,” he said.

“The fact is that today, we are celebrating Tweede Nuwe Jaar.”

The City of Cape Town has repeatedly stressed that the CTMCA’s court matter is separate from the official Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations scheduled for Monday.

In a statement issued on Friday, January 2, City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said: “The official Tweede Nuwe Jaar Festival is all systems go for Monday, 5 January. Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a completely separate event not to be confused with the court application brought by a different minstrel organisation – the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association.”

According to the City, the dispute stems from what it describes as the CTMCA’s late and incomplete application for the use of Vygieskraal Stadium. While a provisional booking was initially granted, the City said it was later withdrawn following an internal review that identified operational and safety concerns.

The City said SAPS classifies minstrel competitions as medium-risk events under the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act, while Vygieskraal Stadium is graded only for low-risk events, making it unsuitable. It has since filed an appeal against the High Court order instructing it to provide an immediate venue.

“The City is also in the process of appealing a High Court ruling ordering immediate venue provision, which is not available for the dates requested,” Tyhalibongo said.

He added that officials had offered to assist the CTMCA by identifying alternative dates at Athlone Stadium, but were still awaiting provisional bookings and permit applications. The City said venue availability during December and January was extremely limited, with most suitable stadiums booked months in advance.

Despite the legal dispute, the City rejected suggestions that it does not support minstrel culture, noting that funding for minstrel events remains its single largest investment in events overall.

Monday's official Tweede Nuwe Jaar parade, organised by the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA), is expected to draw about 20 000 performers and thousands of spectators.

Troupes will march from Chiappini Street along Somerset Road before entering the stadium, covering a route of approximately 1.2km. Both the route and date were determined by the organisers.

Meanwhile, the CTMCA has described the High Court ruling as a significant victory after years of legal battles, arguing that it affirms the association’s right to host cultural competitions. The City, however, has reiterated that the judgment relates only to the CTMCA internal competitions and venue provision and does not affect Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations.

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