There was a buzz of excitement in the air as spectators moved along Somerset Road in Sea Point to get the best view possible for the Cape Carnival troupes as they make their way to the Cape Town Stadium going via Somerset Road .
This is the new route that was chosen after the Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) complained that the old route has become too costly.
Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) director Muneeb Gambino told the Weekend Argus that the adjustments were made to protect the Klopse and safeguard its future. “If we don’t make these changes, the carnival could cease to exist in the coming years,” Gambino said.
“We will be dropped off and walk right into Lower Chiappini Street, then into Somerset Road, under the underpass, and into DHL Stadium,” Gambino explained. He noted that bands will only start in Somerset Road during the Tweede Nuwe Jaar street parade, followed by the immediate start of the five-day competition at the stadium.
Gambino said the changes respond to rising costs and evolving troupe sizes.
“Before, we had about 40 troupes across Cape Town. Now we only have 14 competing troupes and three Atcha troupes. The carnival has become financially unviable. Transport alone can cost R8,800 per bus, per day, with one team spending up to R160,000,” he said.
Gambino emphasised that this is not a new route. “The formal carnival started as a competition in Green Point in 1907, not as a parade. Before that, teams would jol in their communities. Up into the 1980s, there was never a single route; teams took the shortest, most comfortable paths. Green Point has always been the cradle of the carnival.”
He said the KKKA consulted historians to ensure the adjustments respect the event’s cultural roots, particularly regarding the De Waterkant district.
“Carnival is going home. This year and in the years ahead, this decision balances history with sustainability,” Gambino said.
Practical considerations also informed the changes. Compressing the parade and competition helps reduce costs while keeping the event vibrant.
“We need to compress the road march, and competition so we’re effectively saving a full day of carnival expenses for troupes, minimising expenses while keeping the tradition alive,” he said.
Gambino said that these decisions are community-driven, not tourism-driven.
“We want our children to play musical instruments, people to be entertained, and the carnival to remain a vehicle of change for our people. It’s either this approach, or no more carnival. The spectacle costs a lot, but it’s in service of the people and the tradition,” he added.
The street event remains free to the public, while the stadium event will be ticketed, offering flexibility for spectators. Gambino concluded, “We’re catering for everyone. The questions was do we take the punches now, or suffer for years to come? We’ve made this decision with absolute consideration for history and sustainability.”
