An illegal klopse march to Bo-Kaap on Monday ended on a bloody note when a troupe rivalry apparently led to a fight in which a spectator was stabbed with a bottleneck.
Eight troupes held their own version of the traditional Voorsmakie event on Reconciliation Day despite being warned that they needed a permit and were going against the express wishes of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA), the official host of the Cape Town Street Parade and minstrel competitions.
Nadeem Swartz, 29, from Hanover Park says he was slashed five times when he tried to intervene in a scuffle between two teams, which resulted in a stampede.
IN HOSPITAL: Nadeem Swartz, 29, of Hanover Park was stabbed with a bottleneck at march. Picture: Jack Lestrade.
“I saw these ouens beating my friends; they belong to a klopse team who were also marching that day,” he tells the Daily Voice.
“I don’t know why they were beating my friends, it’s probably jealousy.
“It was before 10pm. We managed to run away from these boys but I collapsed, I didn’t even know I was stabbed.”
Nadeem says a good Samaritan rushed him to Somerset Hospital.
“Doctors couldn’t believe I survived, I pulled out the broken glass from my wounds because they stabbed me with a bottleneck,” he says.
“There are two holes in my one lung and I had an emergency operation.”
UPROAR: Voorsmakie in Bo-Kaap on Monday. Picture: Supplied.
Nadeem says he didn’t make a case with SAPS as he isn’t sure who exactly stabbed him, but he knows which troupe was behind the attack.
The ruckus sparked wild allegations on social media, with claims of gunshots being fired were made.
But this was denied by the chairperson of the Bo-Kaap Civic Association, Osman Shaboodien, who believes those looking to undermine carnival events have exaggerated the incident.
“There was no shooting, we are investigating this incident to see if it is gang-related,” he says.
“There are people waiting to get the klopse banned, so there are all sorts of rumours going around to make matters worse.
“We are glad the Daily Voice is setting the record straight.
“There are talks that we invited troupes to come, but we didn’t. We told troupes they need a permit in order to march here, but that didn’t happen.
“People came and did their klopse jol on their own.
“If we had permits, there would have been police, medics and ablution facilities.”
The director of the KKKA, Muneeb Gambeno, has also distanced himself and the organisation from the march.
“We had a meeting with these troupes last week and told them that we can’t sanction an illegal klopse march. We informed them that they will need a permit from the City,” he says.
NOT INVOLVED: KKKA director Muneeb Gambino. Picture: File image.
Meanwhile, two members of the Ashwin Willemse Orients Development klops, who were also in Bo-Kaap, lost their lives while on their way home to Elsies River on Monday night.
The two-door Opel Corsa they were travelling in allegedly hit a kerb, sending four passengers flying out onto the R300, leaving one other person trapped in the car.
Orients secretary Josias De Wee confirmed the accident: “The driver is still alive, but two of the passengers who were flung out had died.
“One of the deceased passengers recently joined the band and played the trombone.”