As the first week of the year comes to an end, we reflect on the return of die Tweede Nuwe Jaar. As thousands celebrate the colourful parades down the streets of Cape Town for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been several changes to the route of the showpiece that does not uphold Bo-Kaap traditions.

Some of these changes include the sponsorship of the event by a betting company, the change of the parade route away from the Bo-Kaap and not reinvesting in the upliftment of Cape Flat communities. She goes a step further to call out the City of Cape Town for not treating the community as equal partners and there are no consultative engagements prior to the festival. To unpack some of the key changes and what they mean to the cultural heritage of the festival, 

Guest: Seeham Semaai - Cultural activist and African feminist lawyer