ANC in the Western Cape takes decision to re-route Cape Minstrel Parade to court

The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape condemned the City of Cape Town’s decision to re-route Cape Minstrel Parade.

The party said that confining the parade to the DHL Stadium is an attempt to commercialise this historic cultural celebration, which dates back to the 19th Century.

The new route skips key historical streets, prompting the cape town minstrel carnival association to approach the Western Cape High Court, which has postponed the matter to Monday.

ANC Spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni said that the city’s leadership is tone-deaf to the culture it claims to represent.

"Its attempted cultural erasure of the Klopse is condemned in the strongest possible terms. We are opposed to the rerouting of the festival to the DHL Stadium. We are calling on the city to allow the festival to continue in the heartlands of the city, in the streets of Bo’kaap, District 6, and the central business district, and all historic routes of the carnival."