Thousands, young and old, oohed and aahed as they watched how minstrels jigged their way through the Mother City on Monday.
Awash with colour and traditional music, the CBD was full of gees, with the Klopse parading in bright, eye-catching costumes, moving to the rhythm of drums, banjos, and trumpets.
Spectators, who were initially annoyed by the hour-long delay, soon turned their frowns upside down and joined the celebration as several roads, including Somerset, Ebenezer, and Green Point Main Roads, were closed for the parade.
Prestwich, Chiappini, and Waterkant Streets were also closed.
The fan walk stretched 1.2 km from Somerset Road to DHL Stadium, a route last used for Tweede Nuwe Jaar in 2015, now known as the Hollywoodbets Cape Town Street Parade.
Some spectators were disappointed by the return of the old route, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying every moment of the parade.
The centuries-old tradition, which saw many fans camping overnight to secure the best spots, tells the story of the city’s history, from slavery to freedom, and celebrates its culture.
Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association, the event organiser, said the day was a big success.
Director Muneeb Gambeno said there were more than 20,000 people in attendance.
“It went super, super well,” Gambeno said.
And that it did, said Nasheeda Majiedt.
Majiedt, whose family hails from District Six, said the minstrels were part and parcel of her heritage.
“My dad grew up in District Six which is where my whole family are from, so the minstrels are very much part of our heritage,” she said.
“It is something we are very passionate about.”
Majiedt said her family usually arrives in the early hours of the morning to secure a spot along the route, but uncertainty this year changed their plans.
“We only arrived at around ten-ish but usually, we get here around 5am.
“We weren’t sure if we would be allowed to put up a gazebo, so decided to come a little bit later,” she said.
She said previous years allowed families to set up days in advance along Adderley or Darling streets, something she feels has been lost with the revised parade route.
“I’m not happy with the route this year. It’s much shorter and it’s changing our heritage and culture,” Majiedt added.
Spectators travelled from across Cape Town to be part of the celebrations.
Harold Adams, from Colorado Park in Mitchells Plain, said he attends Tweede Nuwe Jaar every year because of its historical and emotional significance.
“I enjoy being in Cape Town for Tweede Nuwe Jaar every year,” Adams said.
“It takes us back to remind us of a time of slavery when people were set free for Tweede Nuwe Jaar.”
He described the event as a powerful symbol of freedom and renewal.
“This is our culture and we can’t wait for this time to arrive.
“It’s a new beginning and a time of crossing over from oppression and suppression to freedom and liberty,” he said.
Adams said the carnival also provides a positive outlet in communities facing social challenges.
“Our country is flooded with drugs,” he said.
“Our children are unemployed and this event provides a platform to make music and melody from their hearts,” he said, adding that his favourite troupe is the All Stars from Athlone.
““When you dance, you dance yourself loose and feel excited, which is what this event is all about.
“There really is nothing better.”
From the performers’ perspective, the day represents months of dedication and discipline.
Trevor Joseph of the West London All Stars said the timing of this year’s march was shaped by religious observances and major sporting events.
“This event usually takes place on the second of January but today is our big march.
“Friday was a day of prayer for the Muslim people and the Stormers played on Saturday.
“If we had marched on the same day as the match, there would have been major congestion on the roads,” Joseph said.
He said the street parade was only part of a much larger competitive process.
“What people need to understand is that today we are going into competition, which is why we need to have the stadium available,” he said.
Joseph detailed the intense preparation behind each performance, noting that rehearsals began as early as February and often ran late into the night.
“People take it lightly but there is a lot of time and effort that goes into our performance. It’s not just about how fancy your clothing is but about how hard you practice,” he said.
He said the West London All Stars are aiming for a fifth consecutive Carnival Kings title, which would coincide with the troupe’s tenth anniversary.
Another troupe leader, Ebrahim Sallie of the Phantoms, echoed concerns about the parade route while reaffirming the importance of the competition itself.
“This event comes from the time of the slaves and is very much a celebration of freedom,” Sallie said.
He described the march to the stadium and the start of the competition as one of the highlights of the day, where troupes select their strongest singers and bands to compete.
“It’s not just about the singing and dancing in the streets but about the competition in the stadium where every troupe from every area comes to compete against each other,” he said.
Sallie said he would prefer a return to the previous route, which he believes better reflects the cultural history of the event.
After the parade, the different troupes perform at the stadium where judges score them on marching, dancing, singing, musical skill, and overall presentation.
The season continues on January 10, 24, and 31, with January 17 skipped for an important Islamic observance.
On January 31, section one finals will be held to crown a winner, and the season concludes with section two finals on February 7.
On Saturday, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) took to the streets in frustration over venues and the metro’s decision to fight a recent High Court ruling.
The court had ordered the metro to provide a safe, legal venue for the CTMCA’s competitions after Vygieskraal Stadium was withdrawn — but the city chose to appeal instead.
CTMCA manager Yagya Canfield said the protest came during Tweede Nuwe Jaar and showed just how fed up the troupes are with delays and legal battles.
“It is one day that we are celebrating but what the City is currently doing is not postponing but appealing against orders that the judges made against them and posing for relief and pushing us back to what we are really standing for,” Canfield said.
He added that the group had originally planned events for January 2, but these were complicated by a Muslim holy day.
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