29/05/2026
We are extremely proud to announce that Makgobokele (CTIA Centurion Campus) made it into the junior National Culinary Team 🇿🇦🇿🇦
We are beyond proud of you and so exciting to see your journey ahead. Hard work takes you to new hights.
Keep working at it! 😎🙌🇿🇦🙏
🇿🇦 Next Stop: Luxembourg! 🇿🇦
After an extensive National Call to Action, rigorous National Trials, and a thorough panel-led elimination process, we are incredibly proud to officially announce the new Junior Team Training Squad for Team Masakane!
These culinary rising stars are about to embark on an intensive training programme, dedicating their passion, skills, and hard work to represent South Africa on the global stage at the prestigious Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg.
Please join us in celebrating our 2026 squad members, their working establishments, and the incredible culinary schools that helped shape their journeys:
🧑🍳 Meet the Junior Squad:
- Elizabeth Ncube – Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa (HTA School of Culinary Art)
- Makgobokele Nchabeleng – Private Chef (CTIA - Chefs Training & Innovation Academy)
- Ethan Joseph – Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa (FBI Chef School - Bloemfontein)
- Loyiso Mlondo – 54 on Bath Hotel (Capsicum Culinary Studio)
- Lesedi Morudi – Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg - (Capsicum Culinary Studio)
- Thando Ntsele – University of Johannesburg (Soweto Chefs Academy)
- Unami Binda – Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg - (Capsicum Culinary Studio)
- Phenyo Pooe – 54 on Bath Hotel (The Professional Cooking Academy)
- Callum Condie – The Swiss Hotel School South Africa (SHS)
- Pholoso Sebola – Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch (HTA School of Culinary Art)
🏫 Representing Excellence in Culinary Education
This exceptional squad showcases the high standard of training provided by South Africa's top culinary institutions. The schools represented by this year's team include:
- Capsicum Culinary Studio (Represented by 3 squad members)
- HTA School of Culinary Art (Represented by 2 squad members)
- Soweto Chefs Academy
- The Professional Cooking Academy
- CTIA (Chefs Training & Innovation Academy)
- FBI Chef School
- SHS (The Swiss Hotel School South Africa)
🧠 Guided by Our 2026 Coaches
Behind every great team is an extraordinary coaching lineup. We are honoured to have our Coaching Team leading the squad to victory:
- Chef Donaldson Mathebula (NH Johannesburg Sandton) – Head Coach (pictured)
- Chef Catherine Adonis (Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa) – Pastry Coach (pictured)
- Chef Marcus Gerike (Urchin Journey Restaurant at Hyatt Regency Cape Town) – Head Technical Coach (not pictured)
- Chef Trevor Boyd (City Lodge Hotels Limited) – Special Advisor to the Coaches and Management Team (not pictured)
- Chef Pieter Malan (Mount Grace Hotel & Spa) - Team Manager & Competitions Director
- Chef Mahlomola Thamae (TM Innovations) - Head of Team Talent
🏨 A Very Special Thanks to Our Hospitality Partners
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to NH Johannesburg Sandton for accommodating the team during the national trials. We are incredibly grateful for your hospitality; it is through great partnerships like this that we ensure the future of South Africa's culinary ambassadors remains vibrant and alive!
🤝 Partner With Our Squad
Thank you to all our corporate partners that have already reached out to help this 100% South African-led and South African squad!
If you want to be part of this incredible journey, big or small, please reach out to Thandeka Fetili at [email protected] or [email protected].
The road to Luxembourg will demand precision, creativity, and resilience, but we have no doubt that this team will fly the South African flag high. Let’s show them our support in the comments! 👇
