The City of Cape Town is still waiting for the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) to submit a formal application for available dates at Athlone Stadium, according to a press release issued by the City on Thursday 15 January.
Despite making various January and February dates available at Athlone Stadium for Klopse competitions, the City reports that no event permit application or provisional bookings have been received from the CTMCA. The City has reiterated its position that Vygieskraal Stadium cannot lawfully host these medium-risk events.
“The City has been clear since September 2025 that Vygieskraal Stadium is not suitable for CTMCA’s medium-risk events,” the press release stated. “We have communicated the availability of Athlone Stadium for January and February dates, and this offer remains on the table.”
For any application to be successful, the CTMCA must ensure compliance with:
- Event permitting laws and regulations
- City procurement rules
- Use of a venue suitable for SAPS’s SASREA medium-risk grading
- Timely submission given the January-February event timeline
Other Klopse events continue
While the CTMCA situation remains unresolved, other Klopse competitions have been successfully taking place at Athlone Stadium with compliant organisers. The busy December-January events season has seen successful events like the KKKA’s Tweede Nuwe Jaar, which attracted approximately 25 000 spectators to DHL Stadium and included a large street parade.
The City continues to appeal a High Court ruling related to venue provision, maintaining its stance on venue suitability and legal compliance requirements.
The City has expressed its willingness to work with the CTMCA, but emphasises that any collaboration must be within the framework of lawful compliance. With the carnival season approaching, time remains a critical factor for any potential application and approval process.
The CTMCA has not yet responded to requests for comment on when they plan to submit their application for the available Athlone Stadium dates.
