ANC calls on Zille's DA to rethink minstrel stance

The ANC Western Cape calls on Helen Zille's DA-run City of Cape Town to urgently reconsider its dubious dealings with the minstrels.

This is a last ditch attempt to avert a court case and to save the annual carnival street parades. The ANC has been requested by the minstrels to intervene to ensure this unique Cape spectacular proceeds.

A standoff developed as an events contractor from KwaZulu-Natal was appointed to run the street carnival at huge expense to the taxpayer.

The ANC finds this action by the city very suspicious as other big events are run mostly by locals and the very people that are experts in their various fields.

Why an outside company was appointed that does not have an understanding of the needs or the cultural and religious sensitivities of the various troupes, Malay and diverse people taking part in this massive attraction, defies belief.

Reportedly giving R3,8 million to this contractor raises more questions than answers. What is its relation to Zille's DA? It is even more questionable why the very minstrel associations that dealt with this cultural carnival for decades, now must at this late stage be subjected to choreography and interference by a purely entertainers agenda.

Why the minstrels are sidelined and subjected to all sorts of shenanigans, is beyond comprehension.

The city does not own this event, yet participants are now required to 'apply' or 'request' to be allowed to take part... It smacks of political and other ulterior interferences!

This is preposterous as other events and participants like those cycling and road running are not treated the same way!

Instead of merely facilitating and supporting the carnival celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the Cape, Zille's DA city is now playing big boss, dictating and patronising a community based series of events with the street carnival as the highlight.

The city has already put a parallel carnival in place to rather turn the minstrel signature occasion into a copycat Rio imitation carnival.

The ANC says the New Year carnival must be guided and directed by the minstrels alone as they own the indigenous intellectual property rights. Nothing must be done without their full participation and agreement.

Statement issued by ANC Western Cape leader, Marius Fransman, December 19 2013

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