Cape Town set to boogie for NYE

FROM poolside to rooftop, vineyard to beach, street party to swanky hotel, the Cape is ready to party into 2020 in defiance of a tough year.

Police and security will be out in full force to ensure a crime-free and safe turn of the decade. Yesterday Police Minister Bheki Cele issued a stern warning to criminals during his address to 400 new police graduates in Mitchells Plain ahead of new year celebrations.

Cele implored them to act swiftly when their lives and those of innocent citizens were at risk.

“When the life of an innocent citizen (is under threat), use deadly force. When criminals decide to engage you, I don’t want to come here and pick up dead bodies; we are not Avbob,” he said.

“Anybody who points a gun at you and prepares to shoot you, make sure you are better.”

He warned officers not to use their firearms to settle domestic disputes.

“Don’t shoot your girlfriends or the boyfriends of your girlfriends. Those are the tools of trade, not for messing up. If you break the law or decide to join the gangsters, it is easy for us to change your blue uniform for orange.”

Cape Town is set to pull out all the stops to give 2020 a rousing start.

The Cape’s longest-running New Year’s Eve festival, Kinky Summer, is held on a wine estate in Franschhoek and boasts international DJs to complement local talent Matthew Mole.

For those who want to boogie closer to the city, 5FM promises a night of revelry at Secrets of Summer, hosted at The River Club Golf Course Estate. The bash features multiple dance floors and a line-up of international acts such as Faithless and Shapeless along with home-grown stars Timo ODV, Locnville, Jack Parow, Youngsta CPT and The Kiffness.

Trendy city venues Grand Africa Café & Beach and Shimmy Beach Club are both borrowing from Spanish island style themes with Pacha and Ibiza parties respectively.

If you’ve left Cape Town for the Garden Route, Get Lucky Summer is ready and raring to deliver a party that’ll blast you into the next decade with headliners Goldfish and GoodLuck.

Dancing until your feet ache isn’t the only way to greet the new year and, if fine dining is your idea of a top night out, Cape Town’s restaurants are prepared to toast to your next trip around the sun in style.

Gåte at Quoin Rock will serve a gourmet feast of 14 courses with drinks pairings for R4 000 per person. Six courses of fine dining, bottomless bubbly and live music is on offer for R2 495 at Grande Provence, while a seafood feast and eight-piece jazz band awaits at The Bungalow for R2 500 per person.

The Athletic Club & Social in the city centre is celebrating the return of the roaring ‘20s with a Great Gatsby-themed party featuring DJs, bubbly and old wealth nostalgia for R700 a pop. The 41 in Camps Bay is also riding the vintage glamour revival and you can book dinner and a party for R1 600.

Or, you could save your cash and simply watch the sunset on one of the Cape’s spectacular beaches – but leave the drinks at home or law enforcement will be putting the cork back in your celebrations.