There is a buzz of excitement amongst tourists and locals alike with the city hoping to bring in the New Year with a bang. A series of parades are expected to clog the calendar during the first few days of 2016, with the Cape minstrel’s Tweede Nuwe Jaar event expected to be one of the showpiece attractions.

Logistics for the event are seemingly on track, and according to Cape Town Minstrels Carnival Association CEO, Kevin Momberg, all participating minstrels are expected to be on their best conduct during the procession. This comes amid accusations that some minstrels have in prior years taken to relieving themselves in seemingly inappropriate places.

“That was an isolated incident which happened about three or four years ago, and it (accusations) is going on and on. This is not happening, our people are disciplined,” he assured.

With thousands of tourists visiting the city over the festive season period, Momberg said the association were always eager to better the quality of the parade, both in terms of performances as well as the organisation of the event.

“We are upping our game; we are trying to give the thousands of tourists who come hear the best that we can do. We’ve got everything in place, so let’s focus on the festivities and the show we put on the road,” he stated.

Mayco member for Tourism, Events and Economic Development,Councillor Gareth Bloor said the minstrel parade represented a unique and integral part of Cape Town and its people.

“If you think of the millions of people who visit this beautiful city we call home, I don’t think there is any other event as unique, significant and rooted in our history as this annual event is,” he expressed.

The City of Cape Town will be providing financial support for the hosting of the parade from its own event’s budget, and will also help to ensure logistics on the day run smoothly.

“One of the things that we are also doing in that context is advising people of all the road closures taking place, which is available on the City’s website,” he noted

The programme officially starts with a competition on January 1st at the Cape Town Stadium, which will continue every Saturday until February 13th. On January the second the minstrels will head to the CBD for the Tweede Nuwe Jaar parade.

The detailed list of road closures can be viewed at http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/MediaReleases/Documents/Road_Closures_Tweede_Nuwe_Jaar_Celebrations.pdf

VOC (Mubeen Banderker)