Thousands turn up to enjoy minstrels' colourful parade
January 03, 2006 Edition 1
Fatima Schroeder
Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool yesterday made peace with Cape Town's minstrels as he officially opened the Cape Minstrel march in Darling Street in the city centre, saying "let bygones be bygones".
"Today we are not here to talk about money. We are here to enjoy ourselves," he said.
Rasool's statement followed a week of tension between his office and the Kaapse Karnival Association (KKA) over funding for the carnival in which the minstrel march was first called off when negotiations between his office and the KKA reached a dead end.
But yesterday he and deputy executive mayor Gawa Samuels joined the crowd and danced to the beat of the music while receiving colourful umbrellas from various troupes as they passed by.
Rasool said that past arguments should be put aside and called KKA chairman Faghie Carelse and president of the Cape Malay Choir Board Shafiek April his "brothers".
"Today we say we are no longer slaves ... Never mind what the sheikhs or priests say, Tweede Nuwe Jaar is ours to celebrate," he said as thousands of spectators standing on the side of the road cheered him.
Samuels echoed his sentiments saying Tweede Nuwe Jaar was as much a part of the city's culture, like "snoek en patats", Table Mountain, the south-easter and the ocean.
"The Cape Carnival over many decades in the Mother City is not merely an expression of tradition or culture. It commemorates slavery and the abolishment thereof. This carnival is now also a celebration of our freedom and the new democratic freedom we attained under the new dispensation. It shows us the way we are: the rainbow people of God," she added.
Samuels also said that the carnival could not be held to ransom by anyone and that those who stood in the way of the event should be dealt with by their communities.
Crowds of people from all over the country, as well as tourists from abroad, lined Darling, Adderley and Wale Streets in the hot sun as they waited for the 66 troupes to parade through the streets in their colourful garments and umbrellas on their way to the Green Point Stadium.
The troupes varied in size and one of the biggest groups was 1 500 members strong. Children as young as two participated in the parade and some even played musical instruments.
The troupes were judged by a panel and there are trophies for the best dressed team, best board and best drum majorette.
Brenda Felix, of Factreton said that she had been waiting in Darling Street since 8am to watch the parade. However, she complained that the facilities for spectators were not good enough.
