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The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 takes on the Cape 1000
Set in the Western Cape, the annual Cape 1000 is fast becoming a go-to event on the international motoring calendar. We borrowed an appropriate set of wheels and tagged along on the 2025 event. Here's Alex Shahini's experience. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! 'Welcome to the thousand' were the first words my navigator, Sam, and I heard upon entering the parking lot of the Cape Town Hotel School Restaurant. The registration point for the annual Cape 1000 rally, Sunday's Show & Shine gathering, represents one of the most spectacular collections of rare automotive machinery in South Africa. Although this Western Cape-based rally may still be in its infancy, it has grown in popularity and proudly claims to be 'South Africa's most beautiful drive'. 'My husband, Ross, started the Round Table Cannonball Run Africa in 2003, which brought about the establishment of the Super Car Lifestyle events company,' says Cape 1000 co-founder Vanessa Crighton. 'He conceptualised the Concours South Africa and many supercar tours before an accident he was involved in December 2014 prompted me to join him in his passion for bringing like-minded car enthusiasts together. 'Having researched overseas regularity rallies like Italy's famous Mille Miglia (Thousand Miles), and appreciating the spectacular scenery the Western Cape has to offer, we came up with the concept of Cape 1000. We had no idea that it would explode like it has,' continues Crighton. Related: All-New Honda Amaze Lands in SA – Pricing and Spec The inaugural Cape 1000 in 2022 saw 40 classic and exotic cars navigate a 1000-mile (1 600km) route, taking in some of the Western Cape's finest roads, mountain passes and destinations. The four-day event that quickly drew the attention of excited onlookers included several timed events in the interest of friendly competition. Arriving at the Show & Shine registration point for the 2025 event in a pre-launch Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 and viewing the calibre of the 64 other cars participating in this year's event, it quickly became apparent that the Cape 1000 is now one of the most preeminent events on the South African motoring calendar. Divided into Classic (pre-1977), Modern Classic (1977-1996) and Sports Car (1997 to current), those selected out of more than a hundred entries for the 2025 Cape 1000 included a 1959 Mercedes-Benz SL190, a 1968 Ford Mustang GT, a 1970 Ferrari Daytona, a 1971 Porsche 911 RS, a 1993 Lamborghini Diablo, a 1995 Ferrari 512TR Testarossa and a 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS Gullwing. Our CLE 53 was joined by other current performance cars like the stunning Ferrari 12 Cilindri and an Aston Martin DB12. Related: Toyota Celebrates 40 Years at Le Mans With Throwback Liveries With the cumulative value of the gathered procession best left to the imagination, the appeal of carefully organised events like these is that they allow owners an opportunity to enjoy their wares in a controlled environment while navigating sections of regularity driving (where the competitor is required to maintain a constant set speed, rather than an average speed) and abiding by all traffic laws. An altogether less restrictive element of the Cape 1000 is access to Killarney International Raceway on the first day of proceedings. Here, owners are encouraged to have fun within the limits of their respective comfort zones. In one of the more surreal moments of my career to date, I rejoiced at the opportunity to follow the racing lines of some of the most sought-after cars on the planet. An altogether easier task when the machinery is not your own – and as capable as a modern AMG package is – I later loosened the reins of the CLE 53 4Matic to record the fastest lap of the day. 'I'd like to thank my sponsors…'. Notes, smiles and camera footage compared, the second part of Day 1 led the convoy via the picturesque towns of Philadelphia, Stellenbosch and Somerset West to join the spectacular Clarens Drive linking Gordon's Bay with Rooiels. As I've experienced on various CAR Performance Shootout routes, it's once you experience the sheer joy and exasperation of bystanders, young and old, at the sight of a convoy like this rumbling through the high streets of smaller towns that you realise how unifying the automotive world can be. Including sections of fast, winding routes in between the towns of Montagu, Aston, Kleinstraat and Ceres, while the second day of the event was designed to test the agility of the cars; ambient temperatures in the Karoo exceeding 40 degrees added to the drama of proceedings. Fortunately, stops for both photo opportunities and refreshments were forthcoming. An integral part of the Cape 1000 is acknowledging the role of enthusiasts, including those who can only dream of one day being behind the wheel of such impressive machinery. With this in mind, organisers are quick to update those following the event and who are keen to catch a glimpse of the convoy on both its route and designated stop-overs. Day two and three overnights in Franschhoek provided an opportunity for both public viewing and a charity auction dinner for the participants. Breakfast plates cleared, and coffee consumed, the third day of the Cape 1000 saw the convoy visit the towns of Worcester, Tulbagh and Wellington before returning to the familiarity of Franschhoek. Parking the new Mercedes-Benz CLE package alongside the likes of the 1969 280SL Pegoda, 1972 350SL and SLS, I noted the subtle yet noteworthy odes to these legendary two-door stablemates within the packaging of the new car. As a reminder, the modern CLE badge was introduced as a means of combining the agility of the outgoing C-Class Coupé with the sophistication of the since-discontinued E-Class Coupé Ignoring the onboard navigation's suggested hour-long return trip to Cape Town, the final day of this year's Cape 1000 guided the convoy towards the West Coast town of Paternoster, including some welcome stretches of well-maintained country roads, where participants would once again need to navigate sections of regularity driving for the accumulation of points. Crossing the finish line at the V&A Waterfront, it's fitting that the ending point of such a spectacular four-day driving route is South Africa's most visited tourist attraction. Indeed, while events like the annual Mille Miglia continue to enthral with a combination of high-end cars and driving routes, with our climate, scenery, people and enthusiasm, it surely won't be long before entries for the Cape 1000 begin rolling in from across the globe. Mercedes-AMG CLE53 4Matic+ Joining the CLE200 and CLE300 4Matic, each available in Coupé and Cabriolet form, the new flagship CLE 53 4Matic+ ups the ante via suitably dynamic exterior upgrades compared with its siblings, as well as 330kW/560Nm application of AMG's turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine. Torque is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission, and its maker claims a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 4.2s. Find the full feature in the June 2025 issue of CAR Magazine. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Mile High Club – 2025 Cape 1000 appeared first on CAR Magazine.
Daily Maverick
01-05-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
Breaking Point — why half of South Africa's teachers are ready to walk away
As South Africa's education system struggles, many teachers are at their breaking point, facing overwhelming workloads, safety concerns and a lack of support, leading many to reconsider their future in the profession. A significant number of South Africa's teachers are considering walking away from the profession, not because they've lost their passion, but because the system is breaking them. According to the Teacher Preferences and Job Satisfaction in South Africa report by the Research on Socio-Economic Policy unit (Resep) at Stellenbosch University, nearly half of all in-service teachers in the public system are thinking about leaving within the next decade. The main reasons include overwhelming workloads, excessive administrative tasks, a lack of mental health support and even threats of violence in the classroom. Based on an online survey of about 1,500 teachers and in-depth interviews with 80 more, the report offers a stark portrait of what it currently means to teach in South Africa. Teachers say they are being stretched well beyond their teaching duties, often drowning in paperwork, dealing with discipline issues and performing the roles of social workers and counsellors – all while navigating underresourced environments. Beyond the workload, the study also shed light on geographic preferences and issues affecting teachers' ability to teach effectively. Surveyed teachers showed a clear preference for working in the Western Cape and Gauteng, with 40% indicating that nothing would convince them to work in a rural area. Interviews highlighted reasons for this, including poor resources, inadequate infrastructure (such as internet connectivity), a lack of services and social factors including tribalism or safety concerns in urban areas. From passion to disillusionment A Western Cape-based teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, began her career in 2018 and said she entered the profession with purpose and idealism. 'It's so frustrating because I chose this profession to help build a better country. I don't want to just collect a cheque and go, but it gets harder every day,' she said. The report also revealed significant challenges regarding teacher preparedness for various aspects of the job, particularly concerning pupils and classroom dynamics. Many teachers felt underprepared for dealing with pupils who cannot keep up with the curriculum, handling large class sizes and effective classroom management. The teacher who spoke to Daily Maverick said among her biggest challenges are overcrowded classrooms and increasingly disruptive pupil behaviour. 'The situation is dire. In smaller classes, you can actually teach creatively, but when you have 43 children in the room, you spend so much time just trying to keep order that by the time you start the lesson, you're already out of time,' she said. The report highlighted that challenges such as compulsory grade progression and low reading ability among pupils exacerbate the difficulty of addressing learning shortfalls. The teacher said she's noticed a troubling decline in pupils' ability to focus and express themselves. 'They can't focus on anything for more than five minutes. They have zero impulse control. They can't construct sentences, and they're mean to each other in ways that are just cruel. They say things like, 'My parents were married when they had me and yours were not so you are a bastard'. They make fun of those with absent fathers or those whose parents have passed away,' she said. The cruelty doesn't end in the classroom, with online harassment among pupils rampant and intensifying, said the teacher. 'They talk badly about each other on social media, and it's getting worse by the day. Sometimes they even create Instagram accounts just to target specific learners. They'll post unflattering pictures, share their test marks, or write captions that are just cruel,' she said. According to the report, beyond academic issues, teachers reported significant stress from managing discipline and behavioural problems, including ill-discipline among older pupils and facing threats or instances of violence from students, which significantly detracts from teaching time and affects their safety. 'Theft is constant – even from teachers. I have had my laptop stolen twice. We have kids selling drugs to each other. Half a class could be high in first period. They'll take anything – antidepressants, cough syrup, cocaine. We confiscate drugs every day, in the most unexpected forms. Their creativity in hiding it is insane,' she said. From bursary to burnout A teacher in Gauteng, who spoke to Daily Maverick on condition of anonymity, said she entered the profession through the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, which was designed to address South Africa's teacher shortage. But after completing her degree in 2023, she found herself stuck. 'I couldn't be placed. Schools were full. Teachers were in excess. There is a need for teachers, you always see it on the news – but where? I was even prepared to take a post in a rural school, because that's where they say the need is, but even that was a great battle for me,' she said. Now in the classroom, she finds herself increasingly disillusioned. The passion that once drove her is being worn down by systemic challenges and a lack of support. 'I'm here for the children, but every day it gets harder. There are a lot of problems. We are underpaid, and we're under constant pressure. When the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study results come out, everyone just blames us, but they don't know what's actually happening inside our schools,' she said. The emotional load no one trains teachers for The report noted that teachers, especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged schools, also take on extensive caregiving, social worker and counsellor roles due to pupils' poverty and socioemotional challenges, adding to their burden and affecting their mental health. Beyond the classroom, the Gauteng teacher quickly realised that teaching comes with a weight she was never trained for. 'I wish when I studied, I'd been taught how to deal with a difficult parent, or how to handle it when a child is being sexually abused at home. You're not just a teacher, you're also a parent, a social worker, a counsellor, you are everything,' she said. In 2024, a young pupil had confided in her about an uncomfortable situation at home. 'He said: 'Maybe it's nothing, but it makes me feel uncomfortable.' I found out he was being abused by a cousin. It broke me. You just want to take that child, put him in your car and drive him somewhere safe. But you can't. We were able to call the parents in, and thankfully they handled it. That experience is what made me want to become an educational psychologist, someone who can help learners with problems that go far beyond academics,' she said. Insights from the teacher interviews presented in the report reveal several challenges related to the collegial environment and school management. These include a feeling among some, particularly newer teachers, of a lack of support and collaboration from more experienced staff, who were sometimes reluctant to share information or take on new practices. The teacher who spoke to Daily Maverick said: 'In some schools, you're forced to call certain colleagues 'mama' and if they do something wrong, you can't correct them,' she said. Even showing initiative, she learnt, could backfire. 'I had a senior who felt threatened by my ideas. She kept telling me: 'We've been doing this for years. Don't act like we haven't tried your suggestions.' So eventually I stopped voicing my thoughts altogether,' she said. Small wins with big impact keep teachers in the classroom Despite the deepening challenges, both of the teachers Daily Maverick spoke to have not walked away from the profession. 'Sure, I could go teach at a private school or move abroad, but when I chose this career, my intention was to be a teacher to underprivileged kids. They deserve better but they can't afford it,' said the Western Cape teacher. What has kept her going, she explains, is the passion she sees in some of her peers. 'The young teachers I've worked with are hungry, and that's important. There's this stereotype that teachers are just in it for the job security, the salary and four holidays a year. But I see young teachers who are invested – not just in their careers, but in our kids. That's what's beautiful to me,' she said. The Gauteng teacher said the small moments of real joy and small victories keep her going. 'I was teaching Grade 3 last year, and there was a boy everyone had labelled a weak learner. One day, he used a new phonics sound correctly in a sentence. I told him, 'You see, you can do it', and he lit up. He looked like he was about to cry. That's the highlight, when you see the light switch on for a child. When they realise they can do it, with the right teaching and guidance,' she said. DM
