This Klopse season is shaping up to be one of the most revolutionary ones in Klops history.
The revamp started with the Tweede Nuwejaar road march being renamed the Cape Town Street Parade, and now, with both the Cape Town and Athlone stadiums in the hands of the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Assosiasie (KKKA), it is time for Klopse base not affiliated with the KKKA to make some tough decisions.
Last year, the majority of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association’s big teams did not participate in the road march, except for the Juvie Boys, who then went on to win the competition, despite being disqualified for the first day’s items.
This left a bad taste in the mouths of the other participants and when I spoke to Mr Shaheed Simons, one of the top directors at the District Six Entertainers, he said they won’t pass up another year.
JOVIAL: A member of District Six Entertainers
“ Die jaar gaan Die Ses definitely road march, ons is daar die twede nuwe jaar,” he said.
“ Ons gaan die carnival competition speel by Cape Town Stadium.”
This basically means that the much-loved Bo-Kaap team will be leaving the CTMCA to play the carnival under the umbrella of the KKKA.
The KKKA previously said all teams were welcome to join the road march, irrespective of which association they belong to.
So supporters of the carnival, prepare yourselves for the mighty D6 to bring Cape Town Stadium down and maakit aanie brand.
District Six Entertainers was one of the top teams of the CTMCA and has won the carnival competition four times at Athlone Stadium and once at the Green Point Track.
Mr Simons, aka “Hiedie Boy”, also said: “For us as directors, this was not an easy decision to make, we have a 15-year history with the CTMCA, but wat ons nou doen is vir onse mense, die supporters van D6. We are the people’s team.”
SIGNED UP: Muneeb Gambeno of KKKA, left, and Shaheed Simons of D6, bottom right
He was also at court earlier this month when the CTMCA filed an urgent application at the Cape High Court against the City of Cape Town after the KKKA won the tender for the Athlone Stadium.
The matter was thrown out of court, but the CTMCA will be in court again today to try and have the matter heard before the season kicks off in earnest.
Mr Simons said: “It does not look good for the CTMCA. En wat kan ons maak, ons betaal klompie geld uit vir ’n200-man band, vir combine en comic coaches, material vir geare, ons speel R300 000 Klops, so we have to do what is in the best interest of our team and our people. Mense dink dis jokes om al jou tyd en geld te sacrifice.”
He added: “We are at the moment getting bad attendances at our practices. Why? Because the people don’t want to come. Because they say we don’t even have a stadium so now I want them to know - D6 speel op Cape Town Stadium en klaar.”
Mr Simons is not doing this out of spite. He was the vice-chairman of the CTMCA board, but is letting go of that title for the benefit of the Klopse.
Last year I sat at Cape Town Stadium and it wasn’t that full. But I have a feeling that this might be the year that our culture, with the support of all of us, can demonstrate the magnitude of the carnival and this sport of Klops by filling the stadium to capacity.
The Cape Town Street Parade will include other acts like floats, dancers and jugglers.
I know that Capetonians love variety - one can tell this by the packed houses of local variety shows - so I do believe that if the prime focus is the Klopse and the other acts are used to break the monotony of Klops after Klops performing - then this parade is going to be simply spectacular.
The KKKA wants to include everyone in this parade, and this clearly is an idea that could compete with that of the international carnivals such as the carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
It is something that we need, a new yet different beginning.
Soos die ou mense altyd gesê het, begin by die begin, so watch out Rio, here comes Cape Town.
With that said, I wish the District Six Entertainers all the best at their new home.