The City of Cape Town provides an update on its support for upcoming minstrel, Malay choir and Christmas band events ahead of the busy summer season. 

The City of Cape Town continues its commitment of contributing to the preservation and celebration of the Mother City’s rich cultural heritage.  
 
Through continued support for these events, the City recognises their importance in safeguarding this heritage, strengthening social cohesion, and ensuring that the cherished traditions remain an enduring part of Cape Town’s cultural landscape. 
 
In this regard, the City’s Special Events Committee has approved support for the Suid Afrikaanse Koorraad Annual Choral Competitions, which took place earlier this month, the Cape Malay Choir Board competitions scheduled for October and November while the KKKA’s competitions are set for December and January. 
 
The support will also cover the Keep The Dream Competitions taking place this month, the Cape Malay Choirs Road March in December, the Cape District Minstrel Board Competitions and the popular 2de Nuwe Jaar Minstrel Parade which returns to Cape Town’s streets on its traditional 2 January date. 
 
‘These cultural events are an important part of Cape Town’s identity and heritage and have been part of the city’s social and cultural fabric for generations. Thousands of Capetonians look forward to these events each year, and they provide an important platform for communities to celebrate their heritage, culture, and traditions. 
 
‘The City’s support is about playing our role in ensuring that these events continue to thrive, while also recognising the important contribution they make to Cape Town’s cultural diversity and our summer events calendar. Collectively, these cultural events receive the biggest allocation of the City’s annual events budget. This is an illustration of the City’s commitment to the preservation of these uniquely Cape Town traditions,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith. 
 
All agreements will be subject to the organisations complying with all the criteria set out by the City. 
 
The breakdown of the City’s support is as follows: 

Organisations must meet the support criteria including, but not limited to, financial and corporate compliance requirements. 
 
Information on how to apply to the Special Events Committee is available on the City website.
 
Permitting
 
The City’s Events Permit Office has received permit applications for a number of minstrel, Malay choir and Christmas band events set to take place this summer, including the Cape Malay Choir Road March and 2de Nuwe Jaar.
 
Those applications are currently under review.  
 
In July, the City held a successful information session with organisations within the fraternities to outline its events permitting and venue hiring processes. 
 
The permit office is waiting in the wings to receive permit applications from organisations who are yet to make event permit submissions and encourages timeous applications to allow for sufficient time to assist in these complex processes and safety assurance.  
 
The City would like to call for those organisations to make their permit applications within the timeframes stipulated by the Events Bylaw.
 
Information on the minimum submission timelines by event size and guide on the permitting process is available through the City’s website.