City of Cape Town clarifies its role in the Tweede Nuwe Jaar parade permit process

In a bid to clarify its role in the planning of the highly anticipated 2026 Tweede Nuwe Jaar parade, the City of Cape Town has said that it does not control the road march route and it is not the event organiser. Instead, the responsibility lies with the minstrel fraternity, while the City's Events Permit Office is working to finalise the permit application for the cultural celebration.

In a statement on Sunday, the City said its Events Permit Office is currently finalising the permit application for the 2026 parade, also referred to as the Cape Town Street Parade. It stressed that responsibility for deciding on the road march route lies with the minstrel fraternity, with event logistics currently handled by the Kaapse Klopse Karnaval Association (KKKA).

The City said its role is limited to regulating events hosted in Cape Town by assessing applications and ensuring that plans submitted by organisers comply with the Events By-Law and the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act.

According to the statement, the KKKA approached the City early in 2025 seeking municipal support for a proposal to take the road march to Green Point via Somerset Road. After considering the reasons for the proposal and the feasibility of the route, the City said it supported the move on condition that the organisation submit detailed safety, security and operational plans.

The KKKA has since applied for the parade to proceed along the Fan Walk down Somerset Road and into DHL Stadium. The City said the application, together with the required safety and logistical plans, is in the final stages of scrutiny before a permit decision is made.

As part of the review process, the Events Permit Office facilitates engagement between the event organiser and various City departments to ensure that all requirements for a safe and compliant event are met. The City said it also facilitates engagement with resident organisations in affected wards and the councillors representing those areas.

The City said the permit process is still under way and that a decision is expected in the coming week once all outstanding plans have been finalised.

The statement also addressed recent legal developments, clarifying that a court application brought against the City on December 27, 2025 does not relate to the Tweede Nuwe Jaar parade. Instead, the matter involves a different minstrel grouping, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA), and is scheduled to be heard on Monday, December 29, 2025.

The clarification follows public claims by the CTMCA that the City withdrew approval for the use of Vygieskraal and declined an application for a separate street parade planned for January 3. The City has confirmed that papers were served in that matter and that it will file opposing papers, but has not confirmed the substance of the CTMCA’s claims, which remain subject to the court process.

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