After the Cape Town Street Parade put the city in a party mood this week, the jol continues as the klopse kick off their six-week carnival competition season at three different stadiums on the Cape Flats this weekend.
The Cape District Minstrel Board (CDMB) will host their competitions at Florida Park, Ravensmead, as they have done for the past few years.
Shahieda Thole says their seven troupes started on 1 January already, and are ready to give it their all.
“We had to stop the competition before it even started because it started raining, so on Saturday we will start from scratch,” she says.
Shahieda says she is excited and cannot wait to give the followers of her teams, like the Ravensmead Community Entertainers, a lekker time.
“We have worked hard to prepare for the season. Our troupes are prepared and will give their all to give the very best. I am proud that my team and I could pull this all together. We are going to have an amazing season and wish all our troupes well as final preparations are made,” she says.
EXCITED: Shahieda Thole of CDMB
Shahieda and her teams were responsible for a major delay at the Cape Town Street Parade on Wednesday.
“I held up the parade for an hour and 22 minutes. I refused to walk around this new Golden Circle they built. We walked the route we have always walked.”
The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) will host their competitions at the Philippi Stadium, having failed to secure the Athlone Stadium, where they had been playing for years.
Vice-chairperson Sadick Soeker says all their 12 troupes’ preparations are in order.
With teams like the Pennsylvanians and Happy Boys in the forefront, the competition will be fierce.
“People can bring food, but there will also be stalls inside. No cool drinks will be allowed because people try to bring in alcohol and we are not having alcohol or drugs at our event,” Soeker said.
Chairperson Riedewaan “Pot” Stemmet said they have taken every precautionary measure to ensure a problem-free season.
“We are looking forward to a nice event at Philippi on Saturday. Our troupes are about 4000 people and will draw a great crowd,” he says.
Both the CDMB and the CTMCA will have tickets priced at R30 for adults, and R20 for pensioners and kids, while people with disabilities have free access.
The Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) are heading to Athlone Stadium. Tickets are on sale at Computicket. There will be no tickets sales at the venue on 5 January, but for rest of the competition weeks, there will be a Computicket mobi-unit on site.
ALL SYSTEMS GO: The KKKA’s Muneeb Gambeno ready for action
Tickets are going at R50 for adults, R30 for pensioners and kids pay R30.
The KKKA, the official hosts of the Cape Town Street Parade and the carnival, and their 24 troupes are ready to entertain. With teams like the Juvie Boy Entertainers, Playaz Inc and the Original D6 Hanover Minstrels, the competition will be top notch.
Muneeb Gambeno, from the KKKA, says it’s all systems go.
“Our troupes consist of 8 000 members. We are reminding people that there are no tickets for sale on Saturday at Athlone Stadium.
“We will allow food and cool drink, but no alcohol, drugs or weapons of any kind. Everything is in order.”