Social media over the past two years has had a significant impact on the Kaapse Klopse.
People who choose to sit at home can now watch their teams perform in the comfort of their beds, be it the road march on Tweede Nuwejaar or the group songs on the final day.
There is always someone at the stadium recording and posting on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
The other popular thing is going on Facebook live when your team performs, then people get to see the action in real time, just like those at the stadium.
The Juvie Boys Entertainers have been at the forefront of bringing the Klopse to social media.
The team has over 13 000 followers on their Facebook page.
DEMANDS APOLOGY: KKKA’s Muneeb Gambeno. Photo: DAVID RITCHIE/INLSA
This is a positive development for all minstrel teams, as supporters who used to be unaware where their team was at a particular time in the day, even while they were at the stadium, can now just check on Facebook.
I’m happy to say that other teams have also picked up on this trend and it’s to the benefit of all.
Many teams doing road marches recently used a simple status update like “Sterk oppad Bo-kaap toe” or “Oppad Klein Makka toe”, and I believe this has drawn more supporters to the events.
It is lekker to see that our Klops fraternity is keeping up in the social media era and it also allows them to celebrate their legacy publicly.
But as with all things, there is a downside to this.
One thing that our people need to realise is that you cannot simply use social media platforms to besmirch the character of individuals, and expect others to remain silent while you name and shame to your heart’s content.
For example, recently the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association released a press statement online, speaking about “the serious express and implied allegations of corruption levelled against the organisation and its directors on social media channels” by three individuals, who they name.
This trio has accused the board of stealing money from a sponsor, Hollard, and of smokkeling with City of Cape Town officials.
Muneeb Gambeno, the spokesman and director of the KKKA, has expressly denied these allegations.
He says they usually don’t take note of what people say on Facebook, but says this time people have gone too far and the board is now demanding a public apology.
“These people do not even know about the workings of this board and yet they want to make these allegations,” he says.
“It is very simple, if they want to say these things, they have to provide proof, because that is what anyone will tell you if you are accusing them of stealing and smokkeling.”
Gambeno who was named in these allegations, says his name has been slandered and he is considering taking legal action.
“This thing which started on social media is far from done. We do not intend leaving it at this unless a public apology is made by these individuals,” he warns.
So as much as we can use social media to promote our culture, those same platforms can be used to bring it down.
In the past, people stayed away from the Klopse because of the bad things they heard, and now that negativity can be spread that much faster and wider thanks to social media.
It is even more dangerous and cruel if there is no physical proof to back up allegations and accusations.
Please mense, be careful of who you listen to online, and question your sources, this is the right thing to do, don’t just eat everything they say up for soetkoek.
Our forefathers taught us: “As jy nie iets goed het om te se nie, hou maar lieweste jou mond.”