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Kaapse Klopse Karnival Marches On Amid Court Battle
Cape Town wakes up to brass bands, bright satin suits, and the unmistakable rhythm of drums once again as the Kaapse Klopse Karnival fills the streets. Around 20,000 performers are expected to take part this Monday, turning Green Point into a moving canvas of colour, music, and memory. Yet this year’s celebrations arrive with an unusual undertone. Alongside the joy and tradition sits a live legal dispute that has split organisers and reignited debates about heritage, space, and recognition.
A carnival that still pulls the city together
For many Capetonians, Tweede Nuwe Jaar is more than a date on the calendar. It is a living tradition that stretches back generations, rooted in the history of enslaved people who claimed the second day of the year as their own. That legacy remains visible in the songs, uniforms, and disciplined marching that define the Kaapse Klopse.
This year’s parade is organised by the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association and will take place in Green Point, with minstrels setting off at 11 am and moving along Somerset Road towards the DHL Stadium. The event will also be broadcast nationally, bringing the spectacle into homes far beyond the city.
Roads close as the city prepares
To make space for the fan walk and parade, the City of Cape Town has confirmed extensive road closures. Somerset Road, Main Road in Green Point, Helen Suzman Boulevard, and Granger Bay Boulevard are among the affected routes. Closures begin early in the morning, with staggered shutdowns from 06:00 and parking restrictions along the route and nearby streets.
Traffic officials will be stationed throughout the area, urging motorists to plan ahead and allow extra travel time. Services at Gallows Hill will operate on a limited basis, with learner’s licence tests continuing at adjusted times and no driver’s licence tests scheduled for the day.
Separate marches and a split in leadership
Behind the scenes, tensions have been building for months. Over the weekend, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association publicly distanced itself from the KKKA event, arguing that it undermines the cultural objectives and heritage of Tweede Nuwe Jaar.
The association marched to the Western Cape legislature, protesting what it described as cultural erasure. Images and clips from the march circulated widely on social media, with supporters echoing concerns about history being sidelined, while others called for unity within the minstrel movement.
It is important to note that the CTMCA competition is a separate event from the official KKKA parade taking place this week. The divide, however, has become impossible to ignore.
Courts, stadiums and an unresolved future
At the heart of the dispute is a long-running battle over venues. In a late-night ruling at the end of January, the Western Cape High Court reaffirmed that the City must identify a suitable alternative venue for the CTMCA’s competition from January 2026, at its own cost. Judge James Lekhuleni repeated that the City is required to make an appropriate venue available, despite an ongoing appeal.
Provincial Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Ricardo McKenzie confirmed that dates at Athlone Stadium have been communicated to the association, following disagreements over the use of Vygieskraal Stadium. The City has offered midweek dates in January and a February weekend, subject to legal and permitting requirements. According to municipal officials, no other venues are available on the dates requested by the CTMCA.
Celebration under pressure
What makes this moment so charged is the symbolism of the event itself. The minstrel tradition has long been described as an expression of identity, resilience, and belonging for Cape Town’s diverse communities. To see it unfold under legal strain has left many residents conflicted.
And yet, when the drums start and the costumes shimmer in the summer sun, the power of the Kaapse Klopse remains undeniable. For a few hours, the city pauses, the streets belong to the performers, and history walks proudly through Green Point.
The court battles may continue, but this week, the music marches on.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: The Cape Robyn
