- The Western Cape High Court has ruled in favour of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association after a nine-year legal battle with the City of Cape Town.
- The judgment affirms the City’s constitutional duty to support the minstrel carnival and shifts control away from private development interests.
- The association has announced plans to return to the historic route, including a protest march on 3 January from District Six to the city centre.
The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) has secured a decisive legal victory against the City of Cape Town, ending a prolonged dispute over the hosting and routing of the historic Kaapse Klopse competition.
Judgment in the urgent application was handed down on Monday night in the Western Cape High Court, with the court ruling in favour of the association and its chairperson, Richard Stemmet.
In a media release issued on 30 December 2025, the association described the outcome as “a historic victory for the people,” marking the end of “nine lengthy years of legal battles, perseverance, and unwavering faith.”
The ruling follows the City’s September decision to withdraw approval for the use of Vygieskraal Stadium as a competition venue, a move that intensified tensions between the municipality and carnival organisers.
According to the association, the court’s decision vindicates its long-standing position that the minstrel carnival is a living cultural heritage event that requires active municipal support. “The City of Cape Town is now compelled to fulfil its constitutional duty,” the CTMCA said, adding that the focus must shift “away from private developers and back to the people of this city.”
‘Our traditions are not for sale’
The association has framed the judgment as more than a procedural win, characterising it as a statement about cultural ownership and dignity. “This is a win for every citizen who believes that our traditions are not for sale,” the media release reads. It adds that the ruling secures “the future of our heritage” and affirms the role of the CTMCA as custodian of the minstrel tradition.
CTMCA spokesperson Sedick Soeker said the outcome has brought immense relief after years of what he described as conflict with the City. “As you can listen to the band in the back, the joyousness of that,” Soeker said shortly after the ruling. “We had hard chores and heartbreaks for years against the City of Cape Town, and they have been victimising.”
The association also used the moment to thank individuals who supported the case, including office bearers and legal representatives. “Without your dedication and grit, this victory would not have been possible,” the statement said, extending “a special thank you to our legal representatives.”
A return to the historic route
With the legal uncertainty resolved, the CTMCA has issued a call to troupe captains to prepare for a return to the streets. “The road is now paved for a return to the streets,” the association said, urging teams to “show the world that we are not sellouts but keepers of a proud legacy.”
Soeker confirmed that the association intends to march along the historic route as part of protest action on 3 January 2026, after an application for permission was turned down by the City. “We made an application for the third. The city also turned that down,” he said. “But instead, I will bring a protest march on the third, on the heritage route, starting in District Six, right into the workhouse.”
For the CTMCA, the judgment represents both closure and renewal. “Our community expects us to march. Our history demands that we unite,” the association said, declaring, “The CTMCA has stood the test of time. Now, let us make the streets of Cape Town ring with the sound of our victory.”
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