The Cape Town Street Parade, aka Tweede Nuwe Jaar, will be held on 16 June next year, the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association announced on Monday.
KKKA Director Muneeb Gambino said the annual minstrel road march, which draws thousands of klopse and their supporters to the streets of Cape Town, will be postponed due to concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.
The City of Cape Town said it supports the decision taken by the Minstrel, Malay Choir and Christmas Band organisations to postpone their upcoming events.
Gambino says: “We decided to postpone the road march to 16 June (Youth Day), there is significance to that day and hopefully we are out of the woods with the pandemic by then.
“It’s about how we characterise it again, it’s to tell people that klops is still alive, let’s celebrate coming out of this pandemic and also to serve as a launch to the new season.
“We can never replace the significance of the Tweede Nuwe Jaar jol, the reality is our people need something to look forward to, it’s a difficult thing but the decision makes itself.
“It would be reckless to have a mass event right now. We left it as late as possible.”
Gambino says they are sad that the tradition of 2 January had to be broken this festive season, but after losing members to Coronavirus, safety is a priority.
“We lost three members, it’s been difficult for society at large. We must accept that these catastrophes happen.
“Part of our commitment to our people is to be responsible.
“We try to create a safe enjoyable event, instead of something putting people at risk.
“We will meet with the City of Cape Town on 3 December to discuss logistics.
“Our intention is that if the pandemic passes by then, we will commemorate Youth Day.”
Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says: “The application date will need to be considered by the Events Office. They will consult various departments and agencies.
“This will all be subject to whether national government lockdown regulations permit large events.
“The goal is to salvage every major event and do these events as rapidly as the lockdown regulations permit.”
Chairman of the Cape Malay Choir Board, Ismail Ely, says: “In the interest of the safety of our patrons and members with the pandemic situation we find ourselves in, the best thing to do at this stage is to postpone the annual road march to a later date, 16 June 2021, subject to everything be back to normal.”