On Saturday past, the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Assossiasie’s competition at Athlone Stadium, which has gone kwaai so far, sadly ended on a low note.
The District Six Entertainers was prohibited from performing their final two items - Afrikaans moppie and English combine - due to time constraints.
All the troupes and their owners are aware that the competition has to end at 11pm.
But many supporters were outraged, blaming everything from police to the KKKA board and even rival teams.
They thought of every excuse, except the truth.
The root of the problem most definitely does not lie with the KKKA, as they opened the gates on time.
But for the first time this season, we found ourselves waiting on teams to arrive.
The first team only sang at 6pm, and by that time we all realised time would be against us.
FUN: Rushdien Sadie of Chris Willemse Orient
Certain teams were ill-disciplined with regards to time, and surely the bulk if not all of the blame lies with them.
This has to be the most difficult sport to control with so many bosses in one place. The KKKA board will seriously have to look at implementing disqualifications; this may not be something that they’d want to do, but we, the public need it.
Because it looks like that is the only way to get klopse to understand that they need to obey rules, and be punctual.
If doing a tafel is more important than your marching item, then you must be prepared to forfeit points at the competition and go Grand March Pass by your tafel.
“Certain teams let the entire KKKA body down and this is unacceptable and disgusting,” said Muneeb Gambeno, the director of the KKKA.
And what is this new thing of doing akkeltjies on your way to the stage?
The items were English combine, Afrikaans moppie and Grand March Pass - that was what the public came to see.
I also hope that this weekend was the last klopse jol I get to see for the season, die item was lankal klaar gejudge, soe hou nou op. Laat julle bands rus en kom met die mond nou, want dis sing tyd.
The battle of the klopse jol every week is getting on my nerves now, and by now we know what you can do, so please, stop it.
DISAPPOINTED: D6 dir, Shahied Simons
Mr. Gambeno said that only two teams were confirmed for klopse jol this past Saturday - the All Star Entertainers and the Orients.
The sport is far from dead, but this attitude will definitely lead to it dying and could cause people who wish to invest in our culture to turn a blind eye.
And then we want to be the first to cry and say: “Hulle kyk onse culture miss.”
I often wondered why the carnival is not broadcast live on television, like so many other cultural events.
But on Saturday I finally understood why - the SABC is probably too afraid to take the chance.
ON: Members of Fabulous D6 Minstrels perform
Imagine millions of people sitting in front of the TV, and they have to watch the MC calling troupes to come and perform for TWO hours.
There wouldn’t be enough adverts to fill that time.
Jou eie mense sal jou bel om te vra, ‘hallo, waar is julle? Ek sit al twee ure by die huis en kyk adverts’.
That would be hugely embarrassing to our culture so we should be lucky that for now, this carnival is not broadcast live.
Clearly some of the role players are not playing the game as it should be.
Klopse is probably the biggest spectacle this country has to offer yet due to such behaviour it is still only being played among our people.
Every owner of a troupe needs to realise that, yes, they are in charge of their team. But the KKKA is in charge of running the carnival.
Please accept this fact and follow the rules.
And if you want to be noticed, or make a point, do so by winning the carnival, not by showing off and acting rebellious.
Mr. Gambeno also addressed the issue of the VIP tickets circulation on social platforms, saying: “Yes, there were as not enough VIP tickets as we only have 120 seats available in the VIP section which can be sold and we are working on this.”
IRATE: Muneeb Gambeno vannie KKKA
He added: “But what these people are not saying on social media is that the board gave them complimentary tickets to help soften the blow.”
En ‘n nogge ding: stop bad-mouthing the MC’s and pitting them against one another.
The KKKA has proven that they are loyal to people who have walked the long road with them and it speaks volumes about the character of this structure.
Shahien Van Nelson is the resident MC for the KKKA, and will be for the duration of this season, soe hou op kla.
You came to watch the klopse, not the MC.