The overall value of the funding for various events and competitions, approved by the City’s Special Events Committee, will be just under R6 million.

The City of Cape Town has approved the disbursement of the R4,572 million in cash funding to support the upcoming minstrel events.

Additional support of R1,3 million for City services and the waiver of costs for City-owned venues will form part of the package of support for the associations. The contribution to minstrel events for the City’s 2019/20 financial year will thus total R5,872 million.

The funding will support six associations to host events, including Tweede Nuwe Jaar, other minstrel competitions and the Malay choir competitions.

‘The Minstrels, Christmas Bands and Malay Choir events have important cultural significance to the troupes, their families, communities and to the history of Cape Town. The City has been supporting them for a number of years to maintain the rich heritage and to expose the culture to a global stage within a safe environment.

‘This funding is an indication of the City’s commitment to supporting this annual tradition that continues to resonate with families and communities across Cape Town as thousands of people, including tourists, fill the streets to watch the colourful and entertaining marches,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

All requests for funding were received through the City of Cape Town’s event support application system and were considered by SpevCo within their delegations of recommendations to the Executive Mayor.

The City took into account the Constitution, the Municipal Finance Management Act, the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, the City’s Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy, and other considerations when it reviewed the applications.

Source: City Of Cape Town