Local celebrities and dignitaries, including the new mayor of Cape Town, Dan Plato, gathered at the Cableway Station on Table Mountain on 2 June, to vote for Table Mountain as one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature.

In his speech the mayor urged all South Africans to get online and vote for the mountain, saying that it was the perfect opportunity to get excited about the city ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

The Table Mountain Cableway company's CEO, Sabine Lehmann, said that not only is the mountain a place of leisure ("where you can climb, walk your dog, abseil...") and tourism but an icon in South Africa, and really "is a wonder".

Comedian Marc Lottering who voted at the proceedings was on form as usual with his hilarious mutterings about the Cape.

South Africans have until July 7 to vote for Table Mountain in the global race to name the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Other iconic African natural sites to come through the first round include the Kalahari Desert, the Great Rift Valley, the Avenue of Baobabs, Lake Tanganyika, the Kafue National Park and Victoria Falls.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature will be determined by votes from the public and South Africans and fans from outside of our borders can show their support for the Mother City's majestic mountain by visiting www.votefortablemountain.com and casting their vote.

Voting to select the top 77 sites runs until July 7 this year. Thereafter a panel of experts will select the 21 finalists — these will be announced on July 21 when the third and final phase of voting will begin. The official New 7 Wonders of Nature will be revealed in 2011.

More than one billion votes are forecast. To cast your vote for Table Mountain visit www.votefortablemountain.com