Jade Witten
31 December 2008
Troupes set to march through the city in the annual Minstrel Carnival on Saturday have threatened to call off the festival due to a financial and planning dispute around the event.
Kevin Momberg, director of administration of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association, said a number of troupes held meetings on Tuesday to discuss whether they would march as planned.
"One of the main reasons for us wanting to cancel the carnival is the fact the city won't let us march into the Bo-Kaap and they won't even give us any reasons. On top of this, they provide us with a pittance towards our security," said Momberg.
While the province had now agreed to provide money allocated to the carnival, the minstrels faced a similar funding crisis each year.
"A motion was passed that the troupes do not want to march, but, while the meeting was on, the province offered us some relief," he said.
Momberg explained that the close to 70 troupes, or 30 000 people, needed to be brought by bus from the Cape Flats to the city centre as they could not afford their own transport.
"We can't carry the event; the cost is too much for us. It costs about R2 000 to hire a bus and we need a minimum of three buses per troupe.
"We had a general meeting and the feeling is we don't want to do the carnival. They treat us worse than second-class citizens," he said.
On Tuesday night Momberg said an urgent meeting with the troupes was to be held today to finalise their decision on whether to march or not.
Melvyn Matthews, chairperson of the Kaape Klopse Karnival Association, also told the Cape Argus that no money had been paid to secure transport for their troupes.
"The buses need to be paid. If it isn't done, we can't have a carnival," Matthews said.
Annerie Pruis, assistant marketing and communications director for the provincial department of cultural affairs and sport, confirmed the department had allocated R2-million to be divided between eight troupes.
She said the reason for the delay in depositing the money into the troupes' accounts was that some had not submitted all the necessary documents.
Pruis said the troupes signed a memorandum agreeing they would submit their business plans, auditor's statements and proposals on Monday but not everyone complied.
"They have to take responsibility, they signed an agreement and if they don't play along with the rules they are going to suffer," she said.
Albert Webster, acting manager for arts and culture for the city, said money for safety and security had been allocated.
"The supply of fencing, toilets, medical services and security services is covered. The amount allocated is R620 000. It is not going directly to the minstrels, Malay choirs or Christmas bands, but is being used to procure the services directly."
Webster added the city would be providing traffic services, metro police, water points, electricity and disaster management at its own cost, totalling about R500 000.
"The city has never provided funds for individual troupes, nor has it provided buses," Webster said.
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