Kaapse Klopse minstrels dance as their troupe moves forward during the annual Kaapse Klopse parade, also known as “Tweede Nuwe Jaar” (second New Year), in Cape Town on January 4, 2025. Thousands of colourfully costumed minstrels paraded through Cape Town Saturday in an exuberant century-old carnival rooted in the South African city’s history of slavery that drew large crowds of spectators. In glitzy uniforms matched with flashy hats, parasols and face paint, the marchers walked and danced through the city’s historic centre in an annual event that an organiser said had grown to become the biggest such parade on the continent.
(Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP) The Cape Town Minstrels Parade, or Kaapse Klopse Karnival, a centuries-old cultural tradition featuring a spectacular display of vibrant costumes, ghoema beats, and electrifying performances, is in turmoil amid a dispute between the City of Cape Town and the Cape Town Minstrels Carnival Association (CTMCA). In another late-night ruling on Wednesday, the Western Cape High Court again ordered the City of Cape Town tocomply with a previous court directive,ordering the city to find a suitable alternative for the Kaapse Klopse Karnival from 1 January 2026 at its own cost. In the judgment, Judge James Lekhuleni reiterated that the city must make a suitable venue available for the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association’s event.
This is despite the city’s appeal against the original ruling. The DA-led City of Cape Town’s application to appeal was served on Wednesday at 4 pm. The City initially requested a virtual hearing and then, at the eleventh hour, decided to hold the hearing in open court.
Read Full Article on The Citizen
[paywall]
The matter concerns a September booking of the Vygieskraal stadium for the historic event, which is an expression of the identity, heritage, and resilience of the Mother City’s diverse communities. After being provisionally approved in September 2025, the City of Cape Town withdrew its approval for the Vygieskraal stadium to be used for the Kaapse Klopse Karnival, citing what it called “operational, as well as safety concerns.” Lekhuleni reiterated his previous order that the City must provide an alternative venue. “If execution is not ordered, the applicants will be denied their right to participate in their culture, which they have been doing on an annual basis.
On the other hand, in my view, there is no harm whatsoever that will be suffered by the respondent if the suspension is lifted. “I must also indicate for the record that the City has not placed before this court any information under oath to indicate what harm it will suffer. Except for the affidavit relating only to the correspondence between the parties,” Lekhuleni said.
[/paywall]
