The President of the Cape Malay Choir Board, Zieyaad Hattas says the  parade is rich in history and spans over generations.

Hattas says, “The first Malay troop that came from java walked the streets of Cape Town that was called the star of independence. So therefore, we historically still walk on a New Year’s eve to ensure that we’re keeping up the culture and the heritage and what a beautiful place. The only place of significance in our Malay people have is now currently still the Bo-Kaap area.”

The Western Cape MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo MacKenzie says the provincial government is working with the Cape Malay Choir board on a special project to document and preserve the history of the Cape Malay Choir.

MacKenzie  says, “There’s not one book written in this country by the Cape Malay Choir, for the Cape Malay Choir, about the history of the Cape Malay Choir. Many people have tried here and there. The Jackets  hanging somebody’s cupboard,  those things should be in our museums in the Western Cape government, and that is what we’ve been working on with the Cape Malay Choirs in the last few months.”

Eastern Cape province

Nelson Mandela Bay residents rang in 2024 with a festive beachside celebration, filled with hope and optimism for the year ahead.

Hundreds gathered at Hobie Beach in Gqeberha to enjoy the last few hours of the old year, ushering the new one.

As the New Year begins, many are sharing their resolutions for the year ahead.

One of them says, “For Gqeberha to be a safe place and a safe country, and improving jobs and opportunities for the young and just to reach to everyone, stay safe guys.”

Another says, ” My 2025 resolution, I want be successful, have a new job and have a healthy baby because I’ve got a baby coming on my way.”

KwaZulu-Natal Province 

Many of the revellers who saw the New Year in Umhlanga, north of Durban say they are looking forward to a prosperous 2025.

Among the young people there were Wendy Hlubi and Khwezi Hlatshwayo, who say they know that it would also require tough decisions on their part.

They say they want to stop wasting money in the year ahead .

Hlubi says, “For me personally, I would like to see blessings and I would like to see myself achieving a lot of things because 2024 was not good year for me, so I am looking forward to 2025. I would like to change how I manage my money, for the past months I have been using my money drastically and I would like to change that and be more consistent. ”

Hlatshwayo says, “The things that I would like to stop in 2025 is people-pleasing, because I am tired and at the end of the day it doesn’t work for me and I am tired of pleasing other people.”

In Pietermaritzburg, hundreds of people attended the annual Last Dance music festival where various artists were performing.

Northern Cape

Some joyful residents in Kimberley in Northern Cape have not only reflected on the year that 2024 was but are hopeful that 2025 will bring new opportunities.

Sharon Sikhweni says even though 2024 had its challenges, she is looking forward to the year ahead.

“I’m going to further my studies and have my diploma, and after that I am still going to study and have a degree. After degree I want to have a PhD because I have bigger dreams. All I want is to become a brigadier one day.”

--SABC--