The City’s proposal to bind the klopse to a three-year funding contract, giving the same amount every year, has been slammed for not taking into account inflation and the rising costs of expenses.
The mayoral committee has approved a recommendation for multi-year agreements for three minstrel events to be tabled at the next council meeting.
However, some minstrel organisations said it would not be enough considering inflation, reports the Cape Argus.
The City’s JP Smith said: “Our intention has always been to help enable these events by providing stability, which we believe will lead to growth and sustainability. These events are about supporting culture as well as creating employment and economic benefits for the troupes and choirs.”
Smith said this was the first time these organisations would benefit from extended agreements with the City, and they believed that approving multi-year agreements could help the various organisations secure corporate sponsorship.
STABILITY: JP Smith
The Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association and the Cape Malay Choir Board supported the requests for three-year agreements with the organisations.
The association will receive R2.4 million in cash and R800 000 in services and venue costs waiver, while the CMCB will receive R700 000 in cash and R400 000 in services and venue costs waiver.
But KKKA director, Muneeb Gambeno, said the amounts should be related to inflation: “Year on year we’ve been putting in our own money. The funding is insufficient and in order for the event to run, 50% of this allocation goes to security.”
He says they receive very little compared to the Cycle Tour, which received R20m in funding.