Minstrel issues under the spotlight, yet again

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Reports on Facebook about violence at the Voorsmaakie minstrel’s parade in Bo Kaap went viral last week, raising serious concerns around the safety of minstrel participants and their supporters. On this station, many listeners were up in arms, some saying that only certain teams should be allowed to walk in the historic area. Others raised the issue of the gang element in the minstrels, the disregard shown to the community, the politics between the associations and why more safety measures have not been put in place by the City of Cape Town for these events.

With the Tweede Nuwe Jaar carnival around the corner, tonight we discuss two things: the importance of safety for all those concerned and why certain groups are allegedly being excluded by the city.

In-studio we have:
Seeham Samaai, an activist and lawyer from Bo-Kaap Civic and Ratepayers Association

Later in the show, we have Sedick Soeker from the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association as well as JP Smith from the City of Cape Town.

The Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) initially agreed to join us but they later withdrew from the discussion.
25 Dec 2019 English South Africa News

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