City of Cape Town considers appeal after High Court ruling favours Minstrel Carnival Association

The City of Cape Town has confirmed it is considering its next legal steps following a Western Cape High Court ruling in favour of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA), while the association has reiterated that the judgment represents a long-awaited victory for the minstrel community.

In a detailed statement issued on Tuesday, 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.

According to the City, the CTMCA approached the court on December 27,2025 after its provisional booking request for Vygieskraal Stadium — submitted in September — was withdrawn following an internal review. While the booking was initially provisionally approved, the City said it remained subject to operational, safety and legislative assessments.

The City said the provisional approval was withdrawn after officials identified “significant operational and safety concerns”, including statutory venue and event risk-grading limitations.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 City refuted claims that it does not support minstrel events, describing such assertions as a “false narrative”. It said it has consistently worked with compliant minstrel organisations that follow due process and safety requirements, adding that its funding for minstrel events represents its single largest investment in events overall.

Meanwhile, the CTMCA has welcomed the ruling as a “historic victory”, saying it vindicates the association after a legal battle it says has lasted nearly a decade. The association said the judgment compels the City to meet what it believes are its constitutional obligations and ensures that minstrel traditions are protected from exclusion or commercial interests.

Court proceedings ran late into Monday night, with dozens of minstrels present in court and others celebrating outside once the ruling was delivered. The CTMCA has since called on minstrel captains and troupes to unite, saying the judgment has “paved the road” for a return to cultural competitions and community expression.

The City reiterated that Tweede Nuwe Jaar will proceed on Monday, January 5, 2026, under the auspices of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association, which it said is a separate organisation from the CTMCA.

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Cape Argus