Cape Town - 2 January 2023: The 2023 Cape Town Street Parade started today just after 2pm for the first time since 2020. The last such event took place on 4 January 2020 just before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic started spreading around the world. In March 2020 South Africa went into lockdown causing the suspension and cancellation of all public events.

The annual parade is also known as the Tweede Nuwe Jaar (Second New Year) parade. The parade is celebrated to commemorate the day slave owners gave to the Malay slaves at the Cape of Good Hope to enjoy after they served their masters/owners on New Year’s Day. During apartheid times the festivities were banned as the participants mimicked and mocked the slave owners.

This year thousands of people lined the streets to watch the parade. Many have been camping out on the sidewalks inn order to secure their spots for the day of the festival. The minstrel troupes march from Hanover Street in District 6, past the City Hall and into Bo Kaap. Bo Kaap was known as the Slave Quarter during colonial times. Many of the participants are of Malay descent, from slaves from to the Cape Colony by the British and the Dutch.