Meet the minstrels!

The Playaz Inc troupe 

The Playaz Inc troupe of Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain, are hard at work perfecting their act before their big carnival debut at the Cape Town Street Parade.

The new kids on the block, who launched this year, are made up of six members who broke away from super troupe, Juvie Boyz. 

One of the owners, Bred Scholtz, says they are ready to take on the competition in the Super League at Athlone Stadium this year. 

“It’s only our first year, but we are already 1 000 members strong,” he says.

“We worked within the community this year in order to build up our team.”

Bred says going up against the four top teams in Cape Town is going to be tough, but they are ready.

Playaz Inc owner Bred Scholtz

“We are competing against the giants of the trade. Teams like Baruch Entertainers, Juvie Boyz, All-Stars and D6 Minstrels are strong, but we are honoured to be among them.”

 Playaz Inc decided on old-school gear for their first season.

“We wanted to bring back the old traditional klops gear as our first uniform. The colours black, red and yellow stripes are significant to the old times.

“You cannot be called a klops until you’ve worn your gear at a carnival for competition.” 

He adds: “In klopse, it’s very important to keep the big reveal of your appearance or as they call it “to blom”, for the Cape Town Street Parade day… that’s the highlight for all teams and in the end, it’s all about bragging rights.”

Juvie Boys Entertainers

Yusuf Gester from Juvie Boys Entertainers

Yusuf Gester from Juvie Boys Entertainers in Mitchells Plain says their strategy is to improve on each item of last year’s competition results and entertain supporters to the max.

“We are preparing to compete with a team of  1 200 members who were established during January 2012 and participated in our first official competition in January 2013.

He adds: “JBE, as we are known, are always geared up for the carnival and the highlight is to entertain and see the thousands of happy people along the road supporting the troupes.”

The team is amped to show off their new gear.

“This year we are wearing purple, lime and pink.”

Baruch Entertainers

Claude Jonas

Claude Jonas, from  Baruch Entertainers, says his troupe is ready to entertain the crowds with new material this year.

“To ensure we lift the standard of the game and show the discipline, enthusiasm and excitement, we will bring even more passion and drive this year,” he says.

His strategy for competition days includes well-rehearsed items from singing to band music.

Baruch Entertainers was started in 2017, as just a band in the Elsies River community, but expanded to become a 1 500-strong troupe within a year.

Members are from Elsies River, Manenberg, Bonteheuwel, Woodstock, Kensington, Hanover Park, Heideveld and Mitchells Plain. 

“We decided to start the team because the community wanted it and Elsies is a big community with a rich klopse history, but did not have a big team in a long time.

“We try to do things differently and add value to the communities by creating an avenue to fight gangsterism and drugs.”

Claude says the troupe has worked hard and can’t wait to haal uit en wys at the CTSP. “We have prepared since March and have worked hard in all areas of the competition. We can’t wait to compete.”

Lavender Brightstars

COLOURS: Nazier Klein

Lavender Brightstars director Nazier Klein from Hanover Park says they will settle for no less than top scores this year.

“Our strategy for the 2019 season is to follow the criteria of the competition and make sure we compete and accumulate points in each and every category,” he says.

The troupe consists of 700 members and this is also their maiden carnival.

Nazier says: “We are ready. It’s a huge challenge as we are a bunch of young inexperienced individuals managing this troupe, however, I do feel that we are ready.”

And they’re looking to make a big impression on Wednesday: “Being part of the Cape Town Street Parade is already a highlight for us, but personally it is witnessing the pieces of the puzzle coming together after all the sacrifices and hard work. What’s even more satisfying is bringing a smile to our members and supporters, witnessing pure enjoyment while performing.”

Original D6 Hanover Minstrels 

Original D6 Hanover Minstrels

Ziyaad Williams of the Original D6 Hanover Minstrels says his troupe is usually voor innie koor at the Cape Town Street Parade – and for good reason.

The troupe has 800 members, the eldest of whom is 79-year-old Sedick Cassiem who can still jol with the best of them.

“We are always the first troupe to march down the parade and we are always on time,” boasts Ziyaad.

The Woodstock-based team was started in 2005 and is made up of members from all over the Cape Flats.

“Because our members are spread across Cape Town, we try to have practice sessions at different venues to accommodate everyone.”

For Ziyaad, the reward for being a minstrel is not financial.

“Once the carnival competitions are done, I go back to the drawing board and start planning for the next year. I’m full-time without pay, but the benefits I reap on the final day of the competition, that’s what is most rewarding… it’s what I look forward to.”