The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association say they are not going down without a fight and will be back in the Western Cape High Court on 14 December after Judge President John Hlophe put their matter back on the roll.
Last week, an urgent High Court application by the CTMCA to force the City of Cape Town to award them Athlone Stadium for their upcoming events was struck off the roll, with costs.
The CTMCA has accused the DA-run City, SAPS and the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Assosiasie of corruption, fraud and spitefulness for denying them the use of the Athlone Stadium for their minstrel competitions.
“They (the City) are being spiteful because we played for the ANC’s birthday,” CTMCA CEO Kevin Momberg said.
But Judge Robert Henney struck it off the court roll, saying the CTMCA provided no evidence to back up their allegations, and said the CTMCA had waited “until the 11th hour” to file their complaint, nearly two months after the City had awarded the stadium to KKKA.
BIG CALL: Judge President John Hlophe has put case back on the roll
On Thursday, Momberg said Hlophe had studied the documents provided by the CTMCA and found enough grounds to put the matter on the court roll as semi-urgent.
“We have the truth and all the documentation to prove the fraud, the corruption and the spitefulness these people have been busy with. We will not let them get away with taking the carnival from the people,” said Momberg.
The matter will be heard on 14 December, two days before the season is to kick off with the Voorsmakie parade.
ALLEGATIONS: Kevin Momberg
On Thursday, KKKA spokesman Muneeb Gambeno said the matter must take its course.
“They can go to court, it is their right. We will go on with our plans to get the season started,” Gambeno said.
Until 2016, the CTMCA had been the official host of minstrel carnival events, but this year they received no funding from the City.
The KKKA received R2 million in cash, and R1.7m in support services, and were also awarded the tender to host events at both the Cape Town and Athlone stadiums.