By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The City of Cape Town to appeal a Western Cape High Court order compelling it to urgently identify a replacement venue for the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA).
The appeal follows a judgement ordering the City to find a suitable alternative for the Kaapse Klopse Karnival from the 1st of January 2026 at its own cost.
The City had withdrawn the approval to use Vygieskraal Stadium just days before the 2026 Minstrel Competition.
While the booking was initially provisionally approved, the City said it remained subject to operational, safety and legislative assessments.
In its statement, the City said it was “disappointed” by the judgment handed down late on Monday night and is in the process of applying for leave to appeal. It stressed, however, that the court order relates only to the CTMCA’s internal competitions and the provision of suitable venues, and has no bearing on Tweede Nuwe Jaar celebrations.
It said the association failed to furnish mandatory documentation and could not legally proceed with the permit review.
The City said the provisional approval was withdrawn after officials identified “significant operational and safety concerns”, including statutory venue and event risk-grading limitations. It maintained that Vygieskraal Stadium is graded for low-risk events, while minstrel competitions are classified by SAPS as medium-risk, meaning the venue does not meet the requirements of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act.
The City further stated that the CTMCA failed to submit mandatory documentation required to process an event permit application, despite being informed of these requirements. In the absence of this information, it said it could not lawfully proceed with the permit process.
Despite its intention to appeal, the City said it remains committed to supporting minstrel culture and heritage. It noted that only two City-owned venues — Athlone Stadium and DHL Stadium — are compliant for medium-risk events, and that officials are engaging with the CTMCA to advise on availability and booking processes.
However, it cautioned that existing bookings mean the venues are not available on all the dates set out in the court order. The City also said it would share information on privately owned, medium-risk venues for consideration.
The Kaapse Klopse Karnival, an annual celebration which dates back to the 19th Century, allows enslaved communities to celebrate their New Year’s Day on the “off day,” observed on the 2nd of January, also known as the Tweede Nuwe Jaar.