Province and City unite to support Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations

Western Cape MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport Ricardo Mackenzie says both the Province and the City are making every effort to support the official Tweede Nuwe Jaar event, which began this morning with 20,000 performers marching along Somerset Road in a free street parade for the public.

Mackenzie said the Kaapse Klopse tradition is an important and valued part of the province’s cultural heritage and described the event as a vibrant celebration of cultural traditions.

“Both the Province and the City are making every effort to support the Tweede Nuwe Jaar event, and we look forward to a vibrant celebration of our province’s rich cultural traditions,” he said.

The MEC confirmed that he received a memorandum from the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) on behalf of Premier Alan Winde, in which concerns were raised about a separate competition that could not go ahead due to limited venue availability.

According to Mackenzie, a number of distinct events and competitions are held by various minstrel associations during this time of year, with planning, routes and operational matters handled by the respective organisers, while permits and venue bookings are managed by the City of Cape Town.

“We have contacted the City of Cape Town who indicated that available dates have been offered for Athlone Stadium, and the CTMCA’s event application is being awaited,” Mackenzie said.

He added that the City has been able to support bookings where these are made timeously and where event permit regulations are complied with.

Mackenzie encouraged minstrel groupings planning their own internal competitions to make venue bookings well in advance, given limited public and private venue space at this time of year, and called on all stakeholders to continue engaging to ensure the tradition is celebrated safely and inclusively.

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Cape Argus