Latest news with #TableMountain
News24
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- News24
New Hillclimb event gets green light for Cape Town in October 2025
Speed Classic Cape Town will see some of the country's fastest cars race in the shadow of Table Mountain. Philip Kgosana Drive will provide a unique and technically demanding challenge for drivers. Speed Classic Cape Town is scheduled for 25 and 26 October. The South African motorsport scene has witnessed the resurgence of Hillclimb events in recent years, with the likes of the Simola Hillclimb becoming one of the country's premier motorsport events. The new event marks the return of competitive Hillclimb racing to the mother city, a tradition that entertained crowds as early as 1912 when competitors raced along Camps Bay Drive, Signal Hill Road and Kloof Road. Organisers say that Speed Classic Cape Town will blend high-performance motoring with curated lifestyle experiences in an open, electric atmosphere that invites all Capetonians to feel the thrill. The last Cape Town-based hillclimb reportedly took place in 1962. 'We're not just creating another motorsport event, we're building a celebration of legacy, innovation, and craftsmanship. We want every Capetonian to be part of it,' says co-founder Garth Mackintosh. Organisers believe that Philip Kgosana Drive at the base of Table Mountain is an ideal venue. 'From both an event and motorsport perspective, the race route at the foot of Table Mountain provides a unique and technically demanding challenge for drivers, while promising iconic visual impact thanks to the spectacular surroundings. This section of road embodies the spirit of South African motorsport innovation and excitement.' 'The race route offers a true driver's challenge, making for iconic imagery. We also enjoy the support of the City of Cape Town, which is a vital component in making the event possible. I would call it the choice of champions,' says Enzo Kuun, Director: Motorsport – Speed Classic Cape Town. Classic Car Saturday will celebrate vintage engineering and timeless design. Meanwhile, the King of the Mountain event, scheduled for Sunday, will see modern-day cars, many of which are built specifically for this motorsport format. They will battle it out for glory over 2.1km of twisting tarmac and 150 metres of elevation gain. Motorsport South Africa has confirmed that the event has their backing and is subject to full regulatory compliance and safety assessments as per their standard sanctioning protocols. The event will implement a comprehensive safety infrastructure based on internationally recognised standards. This includes the installation of temporary FIA-compliant concrete barriers and debris fencing where necessary, as well as speed management through two chicanes installed at strategic points to reduce vehicle speed. 'It is worth noting that this barrier and fencing configuration was successfully deployed during the Cape Town Formula E E-Prix in 2023, which further reinforces its effectiveness and local operational viability,' added Steve Harding, Motorsport South Africa, Clerk of Course. Competitor entry into Speed Classic Cape Town is by application and invitation only, and the organisers anticipate a full grid. The Hillclimb primarily focuses on time attack and exhibition-based vehicles, targeting a separate audience and vehicle category compared to regular motorsport formulas such as those that form part of the Extreme Festival National Circuit racing series. Drivers wishing to participate in the event have until 15 August to apply here. Successful applicants will be notified by 22 August. Entry fees for Classic Car Saturday (25 October) are R10 000 (all classes) and R15 000 for manufacturer entries, while the King of the Mountain Shootout entries are R15 000 (all classes and manufacturer entries) for 26 October. Motorsport enthusiasts can purchase general access, grandstand or hospitality tickets via Web tickets from 1 August 2025. LISTEN |
The Independent
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Salsify in Cape Town: The fine dining restaurant rewriting the South African food story
What does it take to be named Restaurant of the Year? Those words conjure a certain set of expectations: a beautiful setting, warm hospitality, knowledgeable staff, a focus on seasonality and sustainability and, obviously, perfectly delicious food. You'd expect all these things as the minimum, plus a little something extra that makes it special. Salsify nails every one of them, and then some. It has that extra something – a chef at the helm who couldn't hide his passion if he tried. Though it sounds like a cliché, chef Ryan Cole of Salsify – pronounced 'sal-si-fee', not 'fie', as I kept blurting out – genuinely lives and breathes his work. Whether it's fishing several times a week with his brother to supply the restaurant (their dad was a commercial fisherman), foraging for indigenous ingredients that 'tell the South African story,' sourcing sustainable produce or, you know, running two lauded businesses (the other is COY, a more laid-back but nonetheless excellent destination), it's clear he means it when he says, 'there was never anything else'. Salsify is housed in The Roundhouse – a national monument dating back to 1786, which served first as a guardhouse and then a hunting lodge. Perched at the base of Cape Town's Table Mountain, with sweeping views of the Atlantic, it's a setting that does a lot of the talking. But Ryan insists Salsify is 'about a sense of time and place'. 'It's an experience, a longer journey – put your seatbelt on and trust us.' From the hand-washing ceremony (my palms had never felt so soft or smelled so good) to the welcome mountain-sage cocktail served in the preservation chamber – apple-y fresh and delivered in a room daubed with graffiti by Louis de Villiers aka Skullboy – Salsify is full of sensory surprises without ever tipping into excess. A desire to be 'ingredient-led' means there's nowhere to hide. Ryan says he'd 'prefer taking off a plate, opposed to adding to,' and as he told the 2025 Eat Out Awards after winning: 'We stand for a few things: no bulls**t, honesty and flavour.' That ethos translates into exquisite, understated dishes – some dictated by what's been caught that day. A parsnip and chicken skin tart is smoky, delicate and absurdly tasty; its texture almost as appealing as its flavour. Springbok tartare, dressed with a lightly spicy Asian influence, is impossibly tender, offset by teensy pieces of popcorn. Steamed pork jowl sounds intimidating, but it couldn't be softer; its crunchy topping is delightfully reminiscent of pub pork scratchings. Ryan knows how to keep guests happy from the outset – with a 12-hour sourdough and milk-stout butter dusted with lemon, served alongside a small glass of stout – and right to the end, with the Salsify chocolate bar, best described as a fatter, denser, fudgier Twix. Something that adds to the experience – particularly for visitors – is the abundance of new things you'll get to try. In just one (admittedly sizeable) meal, I tasted spekboom on an oyster; umfino, made from pap (a maize dish that's a staple in any Cape Townian's diet) and leafy greens; chokka, a squid found off the South African coast; chakalaka, a spicy vegetable relish; and cake made from the tropical plant pandan – along with many more ingredients you just can't get in the UK. This pride in South African food and ingredients isn't unique to Salsify. At De Tafel at the Palm House Hotel and Spa – a gorgeous place to stay that exemplifies South African hospitality – the menu 'takes its cue from the indigenous flora and flavours of the Cape'. That felt true enough; I recognised fewer ingredients than I didn't – from kaapse suurings and veld patat to kappertijies, confetti bush and suikerbossie. My palate felt awakened in a way it hadn't in years. A standout discovery was snoek – a lean, local species of snake mackerel often turned into a smoked pâté that, bizarrely, pairs perfectly with marmalade. It's also a brilliant way to use up leftovers from the braai – that's a BBQ, to Brits. That pride extends to wine too, although it's something the rest of the world hasn't quite caught up with yet – as my colleague Hannah Twiggs wrote back in March. Despite its Mediterranean climate, deep-rooted winemaking tradition and truly breathtaking wine regions, South Africa still struggles to shake off its reputation as a budget alternative to the French classics. Wines here are often massively underpriced in British supermarkets – seen as the 'cheap option.' That perception seems to be shifting. Babylonstoren in Stellenbosch – a working farm, winery and luxury hotel – provided the official wine of this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show: a 2024 Mourvèdre Rosé. My own top tip, after trying (almost too) many bottles championed by South Africa's tourism agency, Wesgro, is to look out for SA Chenin Blancs. Crisp, subtly fruity and refreshing, it quickly became my wine of the summer. I particularly loved a bottle from Jordan Wines, but I picked up a brilliant one in Tesco when I got home – yet more proof of the undervalued prices. Naturally, South African wine features heavily at Salsify, and a Charles Fox 2016 Cœur de Cuvée was one of the most spectacular sparkling wines I've tasted. But I must also mention my peruse-the-menu cocktail – a rhubarb cosmopolitan. Tart, sweet and tangy, it's the kind of drink that would drive Carrie Bradshaw crazy. Almost as crazy as Ryan is about cooking. He's only ever wanted to quit once – deathly hungover, he tells me – and if he couldn't cook, he'd 'burn the place down. And by place, I mean the world.' Luckily for us, he's still doing his thing – and South Africa is all the better for it. Since my visit, Salsify was ranked No 88 – on its debut entry – in the World's 50 Best Restaurants Top 100 list for 2025. Here's how to braai fish like Ryan, paired with a summery curried salad. BBQ fish and summer curried salad Ingredients: 1x 2kg whole fish (preferably sea bass or kingfish) Zest and juice of 1 lemon Zest and juice of 1 lime 2 tbsp Maldon sea salt 50g butter, softened to room temperature 1 clove garlic, finely grated 1 apple, juiced 1 carrot, juiced 1 tsp medium curry powder 40ml olive oil 30ml apple cider vinegar 100ml Greek yoghurt 1 head butter lettuce, leaves picked 1 tub ricotta 1 pomegranate 30g salted roasted cashew nuts 1 cucumber, peeled into ribbons For the fish: Ask your fishmonger to butterfly your fish and remove the head, leaving the collar on and the belly whole. Method: 1. Light a fire and allow the coals to burn down to embers. Season your fish with the zest and juice of both the lemon and lime, 1 tablespoon of Maldon salt and a good crack of white pepper. Place the fish skin side down on the grid over the coals. Cook for 4-6 minutes, then flip onto the other side and cook for 1 minute. Allow the fish to rest for 3 minutes, before brushing the soft butter, with one clove of finely grated garlic mixed in, over the flesh. For the summer curried salad: 2. Mix the carrot and apple juice together in a heatproof pan and place over heat. Reduce the juice by ⅔, then remove from the heat and add curry powder, apple cider vinegar and olive oil. Allow the mixture to cool, then stir through the yoghurt. 3. Add the lettuce, pomegranate, cucumber and cashew nuts to a bowl. Toss together with the yoghurt mix and ricotta. Serve alongside your fish.
The Herald
02-07-2025
- The Herald
Quick-thinking hikers get help to injured German visitor on Lion's Head
Rescuers have thanked a group of compassionate hikers who assisted an injured German visitor who fell 10m down a stepped path on the Lion's Head trail in Cape Town. The 68-year-old man was descending the trail when he slipped on a tree root and fell on Sunday evening. The accident was witnessed by local hikers who phoned for help upon realising the man could not walk. Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) said the group administered first aid and stayed with the man until help arrived. Rescue teams from WSAR, Western Cape government health and wellness EMS paramedics, SANParks, and Table Mountain National Park Seam team members responded. 'After receiving initial treatment from a paramedic, the injured hiker attempted to continue on foot with assistance,' said WSAR. However, when fatigue set in, he was carried down on a rescue stretcher and transported by ambulance to hospital. 'Even experienced hikers can find themselves in trouble. Slippery trails, uneven terrain and fatigue are common causes of accidents on our trails. That's why we continue to urge all outdoor enthusiasts to be well-prepared and never underestimate the mountain,' said WSAR spokesperson David Nel. 'The hikers' quick action, calm thinking and compassion made a difference in a moment of need, offering help to a stranger far from home. We're grateful for the public support and proud of our teams and partners who respond, often late into the night, to bring people home safely.' TimesLIVE
The Independent
25-06-2025
- The Independent
The food-lover's city where three-course meals cost less than £20
In Cape Town, a culinary challenge awaits, one that dwarfs even the city's iconic Table Mountain in its sheer, edible scale. This is the Gatsby, a mammoth submarine sandwich that has become an enduring symbol of the city's vibrant food culture and community spirit. This colossal creation traces its origins back to the mid-1970s in the Cape Flats, an area where many townships developed. It was here that a resourceful fish and chip shop owner, seeking to feed his hungry workers, concocted the first iteration – a pragmatic assembly of leftovers. Its name is borrowed from F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel. Beyond its budget-friendly price tag and formidable size – often capable of feeding multiple mouths – the Gatsby holds profound cultural significance. It stands as a delicious emblem of the resourcefulness and enduring community spirit that characterised Cape Town's working-class neighbourhoods during the challenging era of apartheid. At the time of my visit, the exchange rate sits at approximately 24 South African rand to the pound, but rates have been consistently good for some time. So even though the price of a 10-hour flight might cost around £800, your pounds will stretch much further after touchdown. While you'd struggle to find a decent hotel room in London or Manchester for under £150 per night, boutique guesthouses in Cape Town's trendy neighbourhoods can cost as little as £35-50 per night – some even with mountain views. A three-course meal at one of Cape Town's award-winning restaurants will set you back around R300-500, or roughly £12-20, and a bottle of decent local wine can cost less than £10. Transportation is budget-friendly too. Uber rides across the city centre rarely exceed R50-80 (£2-3). Continuing my urban food and drink safari, I find myself in one of the city's most saintly coffee shops, where a caffeine fix is near nirvanic. Far cheaper than a Starbucks, Heaven Coffee has become an invaluable part of the community for many more reasons. Tucked inside a Methodist church on Greenmarket Square in the CBD, the coffee shop was set up by entrepreneur Mondli Mahamba, who first turned up as a homeless person seeking help. 'I asked the minister if I could rent a space,' he explains, as a coffee machine whirrs and splutters. 'It was a way for me to do something. I enjoy hosting people. I wanted to create an open space for everyone – from high-flying lawyers to homeless people and tourists from Europe.' Along with serving locally roasted coffee and providing a peaceful and accessible haven in a busy city, Mr Mahamba trains and upskills those who've been down on their luck. But he stresses Heaven is not a charity. 'Coffee builds community and brings people together,' he says. Celebrating grassroots traditions is at the core of the Seven Colours Eatery in the Victoria & Albert Waterfront development. Chef and founder Nolu Dube-Cele nostalgically recalls dishes made by her grandmother in Eastern Cape village Tsengiwe and highlights the diversity of South Africa's culinary heritage through her creative menu. 'I want to celebrate the country I love so much,' she enthuses, serving umngqusho – also known as samp (dried corn) and beans, a staple dish cherished by Nelson Mandela. I eat it with chakalaka (a spicy vegetable relish) and drink wine made by the HER group of all-black, all-female winemakers. 'Seven colours is the nickname for a dish often served at family gatherings,' explains Ms Dube-Cele. 'My grandma would serve it on Sundays – using everything and anything she had. Some of the ingredients don't even get along on the plate, but when you eat it you feel loved.' Costing less than £10 for a main meal big enough for two, the dishes create a warm, glowing feeling all round. More than being affordable, Cape Town offers luxury experiences at high-street prices, five-star adventures on a three-star budget, and memories that are absolutely priceless.
Mail & Guardian
01-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Mail & Guardian
What makes a building memorable long after the paint dries?
Imagine 17!: Not all architecture is appealing, such as the Disa Towers in front of Table Mountain. But even these buildings invoke people's memories. Photo: Supplied Everyone remembers the corridors of their school and the distinct smell of specific classrooms. If you've ever been divorced, I am certain you will never forget those cold courtroom walls as you went in to finalise the legal process. It's hard to forget the home where your baby took her very first steps. And one cannot possibly erase the feeling of time spent within hospital walls, where the happiest of hellos and hardest of goodbyes intertwine. Buildings shape us and live inside us as the years go by. Cities with their people and properties evolve through human stories. South Africa, with its rich layers, contradictions, and painfully beautiful potential, is bursting with spaces that people have emotionally connected with for centuries. As I stood inside a heritage building last week at a property launch, I was reminded of just how many of Cape Town's buildings are not just structures but characters in the city's ever-evolving plot. I looked at the 120-year-old solid, bulky wooden beams above me and admired the original sun-dried brick walls —almost two centuries of history right at my very feet. And now, this building will receive a new lease on life as she enters her new chapter. She will become a modern apartment block. The developer will combine the old with the new, transforming this heritage building into something inspiring. They will incorporate modern, contemporary design, all the while maintaining the extraordinary façade with its vintage architectural charm. Have you ever sat and thought about the buildings in our cities and how they came to be? Let's take those three tall towers (known affectionately by Capetonians as the Tampon Towers) perched awkwardly at the base of the Mother City's iconic Table Mountain. I have tweeted a lot about these pepper pots, and the general consensus is that people either really love or really hate the towers. This controversial trio of architecture, officially known as Disa Park, is situated in Vredehoek, Cape Town. Big and brutalist in look and feel, it was designed by the architectural firm Bergamasco, Duncan & James. The towers were cylindrical in shape to withstand the strong Cape Town winds that are experienced in this section of Vredehoek. Some see them as charming reminders of youthful independence: their first-ever student digs, where they shaped the early days of their lives. Even today, those who live there love the towers' close proximity to nature trails and the cosmopolitan vibe of the Mother City. Others view them as visual intrusions on one of the world's natural wonders. Some of my Twitter, now X, followers have said the building sways when gale-force winds blow, and sometimes, a window or two has blown out. Did you know that the original plan was to build 17 of these towers at the base of Table Mountain? And have you ever wondered why three towers of this size were allowed to be built this high and so close to the base of Table Mountain? There is, of course, a fascinating story behind all of my above questions. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, Cape Town was dealing with a 'white housing' shortage under apartheid. More housing needed to be built specifically in areas designated for white residents. In an effort to speed up construction and encourage development, the government suspended many building restrictions and relaxed zoning regulations in white group areas. Developers took full advantage and started building much taller buildings than was previously allowed. Cape Town then experienced a surge in high-rise developments. Murray & Roberts, the company behind the construction of Disa Towers, found a loophole. They built the base of the towers just below the legal development line at the foot of Table Mountain, then went upward. They were able to bypass height restrictions legally, and technically. Thankfully, only three towers were built, namely: Blinkwater, Platteklip and Silverstroom. Construction was completed in 1969. Each one has 18 storeys and is 54.86m high. The diameter of each tower is 24.384m. Amenities include a tennis court, squash court, swimming pool and braai area. With a total of 287 apartments and 340 parking bays, the cost to build this development at the time was R3 million. The third tower took just 63 days to build. If only we could close a pothole in record-breaking times such as this. And what was the monthly rent for an apartment in Disa Towers back then? R55 to R160 a month. This rate included water and electricity. The son of the National Party finance minister at the time — Nico Diederichs — was a junior partner in the company that developed Disa Park. The conspiracists say his involvement could have also contributed to these controversial towers being built at this location. Today, those towers remind us of a complicated era — one where architectural ambition often trumped environmental and social ethics. But they also reflect how policy shapes our skylines, for better or worse. Other notable buildings built during this cowboy period of development include Blouberg Heights, an extremely tall block that stands out like a sore thumb in the coastal suburb's landscape. Blouberg Heights, built in the 1970s, is 17 storeys high and is on Sir David Baird Drive in Bloubergstrand, Cape Town. It is the only building of its kind in this area, as other structures are much lower. Gardens Centre Tower is on Mill Street and Upper Buitenkant Street, Gardens, Cape Town. It was also built in the 1970s during this era of the 'white housing' crisis. It was completed in 1973, measuring 81m with 22 floors. This erf was once the home of the International Hotel before it was transformed into a residential tower with a shopping centre component. Last, the well-known Twin Towers in Sea Point were also built during this period of relaxed regulation. These two identical towers are right next to each other on Beach Road. All this was done in the name of alleviating the housing shortage for the white people, who were the only ones permitted to live in these areas. It's crazy to think that these developments were all built as a solution to a housing crisis at the time, yet their effect on the Cape Town skyline will be experienced by so many generations to come. They've left a significant imprint on the city's urban history. Perhaps they are a fundamental lesson for us all when it comes to the sustainability and essence of urban planning and design. Not all buildings are pretty. Not all histories are happy. But they all deserve to be heard. The concrete and steel don't just support floors. They support stories. They tell us who we were, how we lived, and if we're paying attention, what we should carry forward. Sometimes in our rush to innovate, we forget to anchor. We want smarter buildings, ROI, the latest tech and green ratings. Buildings shouldn't only help us move forward; they should also help us look back. Urban development should always listen to a place's heartbeat before changing its face. In the end, people don't remember square metres. They remember how a place made them feel. How a room held their joy or sorrow. How a view reminded them of something they'd forgotten. Ask Ash examines South Africa's property, architecture and living spaces. Continue the conversation with her on email (
