CAPE TOWN – The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) is facing renewed legal challenges as the City of Cape Town has filed another appeal for relief, despite a High Court order issued on Thursday, 1 January, 2026, that ruled in the organisation’s favour.
The minstrel association, which recently celebrated what it called a “historic victory” in securing venue rights for their traditional celebrations, now finds itself returning to court as the municipality continues its legal resistance.
In a statement they said: “The Cape Town MinstrelCarnival Association (CTMCA) is facing a critical juncture in our efforts to host ourscheduled events. Despite a High Court order issued on 1 January 2026, the City of Cape Town has filed another appeal for relief, forcing us to return to court.”
In a public appeal for support, the CTMCA revealed it is struggling financially to challenge the City’s latest legal action and is urgently seeking assistance from the community and potential donors.
The organisation apologised to the broader Cape Town community for delays in hosting their scheduled events, expressing appreciation for patience and understanding during the ongoing dispute.
“We believe in the importance of our events for the community and are determined to see this through. However, we need support to cover the costs of legal proceedings,” the association stated.
City offers unsuitable alternative dates
The City has proposed alternative dates for the CTMCA’s events, but these do not align with the organisation’s original requests for January 1, 10, 17, and 24.
According to the CTMCA, the municipality has offered “all Wednesdays in January and two days in February during Ramadan” – dates that the association considers inappropriate for their traditional celebrations.
The minstrel organisation highlighted that Athlone Stadium was available on January 1, one of their specifically requested dates, with no competing events scheduled at the venue.
The CTMCA is appealing directly to the public for financial assistance to continue their legal battle against the City’s appeal.
Those wishing to support the organisation can contact Igshaan Alexander at 072 353 4093 or email minstrelscapetown@telkomsa.net. Alternative contact details include Yagyah Canfield at 084 785 9823 or Ycanfield66@gmail.com.
Background to the legal dispute
The current appeal follows the CTMCA’s earlier court victories against the City of Cape Town, including a dramatic New Year’s Eve ruling that compelled municipal compliance with venue provision orders.
The organisation initially challenged the City’s sudden withdrawal of permission to use Vygieskraal Stadium for their traditional competitions, despite previous approval having been granted.
The legal battle has highlighted tensions between cultural heritage rights and municipal administrative processes, with the courts consistently ruling in favour of the minstrel community’s constitutional right to celebrate their traditions.
The CTMCA’s legal representative had previously celebrated their victories as a testament to “the power of community and preserving cultural heritage,” but the City’s persistence in filing appeals continues to drain the organisation’s resources.
The ongoing legal dispute threatens to undermine one of Cape Town’s most significant cultural traditions, with the minstrel carnival representing generations of heritage practice deeply embedded in the city’s identity.
As the legal battle continues, the CTMCA’s ability to host their traditional celebrations remains uncertain, dependent on both court outcomes and the community’s willingness to support their financial needs.
The City emphasised that the official Tweede Nuwe Jaar Festival organised by the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association remains unaffected and will proceed as planned on Monday, 5 January.
The municipality stressed this official celebration is “a completely separate event not to be confused with the court application brought by a different minstrel organisation – the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association.”
