- The City of Cape Town says the court judgment deals only with the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association’s internal competitions and not Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations.
- Officials argue the Vygieskraal Stadium booking was lawfully withdrawn due to missing documentation and safety risk classifications.
- The City maintains that it supports minstrel culture and states that alternative, compliant venues were explored but were unavailable.
The City of Cape Town has pushed back strongly against claims that it acted unfairly toward the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA). This followed a court judgment handed down on 27 December 2025 concerning venue access for CTMCA competitions.
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In a detailed statement, the City stressed that the ruling relates exclusively to CTMCA’s internal competitive events and “does not affect the separate organisation managing Tweede Nuwe Jaar.”
According to the City, public discourse following the judgment has blurred an important distinction between internal competitions and large-scale cultural parades. The City said it “remains committed to supporting minstrel culture and heritage” and rejected what it described as a portrayal of the municipality as hostile or dismissive of the tradition.
“The matter pertains solely to the CTMCA’s internal competitions and suitable venues for such events,” the City stated, adding that Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations fall under different organisational structures and remain unaffected.
Safety concerns and withdrawn stadium booking
Central to the dispute is the City’s decision to withdraw a provisional booking for Vygieskraal Stadium, which CTMCA had requested approximately three months in advance. The City said the booking could not be confirmed because CTMCA failed to submit the mandatory documentation required under event safety regulations.
Officials further cited legal obligations under the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act, explaining that “Vygieskraal Stadium is graded for low-risk events,” while minstrel competitions are classified as “medium-risk events.” On that basis, the City concluded that the venue was unsuitable.
“This makes the venue unsuitable for minstrel competitions,” the City said, noting that safety compliance is not discretionary but a statutory requirement. The City added that it was “disappointed with the judgment” but maintained that its conduct was lawful, reasonable and guided by public safety considerations.
Alternative venues and ongoing events
In response to criticism that it failed to accommodate CTMCA, the City said it explored alternative medium-risk compliant venues, including Athlone Stadium and DHL Stadium. However, both venues were unavailable on the dates requested by the association.
Despite the dispute, the City reiterated its broader support for Cape Town’s minstrel ecosystem and highlighted a full calendar of upcoming events organised by various boards and associations. These include the Cape Malay Choir Board’s road march on 31 December 2025, ongoing choir competitions held between November and December, and the highly anticipated Tweede Nuwe Jaar parade scheduled for Monday, 5 January 2026.
The City emphasised that the parade will be organised by the Kaapse Klopse Karnivaal Association and described it as a cornerstone cultural event. Additional competitions hosted by the Cape Districts Minstrel Board, Keep the Dream, and the SA United Christmas Bands Board are also set to take place between January and March 2026.
“The City emphasises its ongoing support for events that comply with legal and safety standards,” the statement concluded, underscoring that cultural celebration and regulatory compliance are not mutually exclusive.
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