20,000 minstrels prepare for Green Point takeover

The City of Cape Town said around 20-thousand performers are expected to take part in Monday's Klopse parade.

The Cape Town minstrel carnival association’s parade at the weekend drew fewer spectators amid ongoing legal disputes with the city and tensions with the Kaapse Klopse Karnival association.

The parade went through a portion of the historic route ending in Wale Street where a memorandum was handed to the provincial legislature.

The association’s PR officer, Yagya Canfield, outlined several demands, including support for free, street-based parades and ensuring the event remains accessible to the community.

"We call on the premier's office audit all public funding directed to minstrel associations and establish a clean accountable public funding mechanism," said Canfield.

Meanwhile, cultural affairs and sport MEC Ricardo Mckenzie who received the memorandum said the city has indicated available dates for Athlone stadium to the association following a dispute over the use of Vygieskraal stadium for minstrel competitions.

"The CTMA's events application is being awaited. The city has been able to support bookings where these are made timelessly and event permit regulations are complied with," said Mckenzie.