Why the Klopse carnival is leaving the Bo-Kaap streets

ROUTE CHANGE

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THE iconic Tweede Nuwe Jaar Klopse Carnival is undergoing a dramatic format and route change, with organisers warning that escalating costs and dwindling troupe participation threaten the long-term survival of the beloved tradition, Weekend Argus reports.

The Kaapse Klopse Karnival Association (KKKA) has confirmed that the customary Grand Parade gathering and vibrant march through Darling, Adderley, and Wale Streets - particularly treasured by Bo-Kaap residents - will no longer form part of the street parade. Instead, a revised route through Green Point will culminate in the DHL Stadium, where the five-day competition will commence immediately following the parade on 5 January 2025.

KKKA director Muneeb Gambino said the changes are aimed at safeguarding the future of the carnival. "If we don't make these changes, the carnival could die out in the years to come," he told Weekend Argus. Gambino explained that troupes will now assemble on Somerset Road and march directly into the stadium, with the intention of reducing logistical and transport costs.