Five things to know about late celeb chef Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko

Celebrity chef and media personality Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko's death has sent shock waves across the culinary world and the country.

He died at Sandton Mediclinic on Tuesday after a short illness. 

“It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the untimely passing of our beloved son and brother Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko, fondly known to the media and his culinary family as chef Lentswe,” said the Mafoko and Bhengu families on Wednesday.

Here a five things you need to know about Lentswe: 

Television Shows

He starred in and presented multiple TV shows, including US-commissioned series Africa on a Plate and local shows KFC Taste Kitchen. He co-hosted the BBC Lifestyle show The Great South African Bake Off and Flava Queens. He was also on Mzansi Magic’s Celebrity Mystery Box.

World Economic Forum in Switzerland

The chef flew the South African culinary flag high at the 48th annual World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland in 2018.

African cuisine

Chef Lentswe was passionate about African cuisine and told The Sunday Independent in 2018 he chose to tap into that side of the culinary experience.

“I’ve made South Africa or African cuisine my business. I’m not playing in Italian. I’m not playing in Chinese. I want to really uplift African cuisine and African culture to a level where we see Western cuisine or modern cuisine.”

Africa on a Plate

He was set to launch his cookbook Africa on a Plate next year. 

“The recipes start from the simplest and most nostalgic meals to the more sophisticated and, finally, to the more adventurous,” the official description of the book reads.

From corporate suits to aprons and knives

Chef Lentswe spent five years in the investment finance industry before quitting the corporate world to enrol at the prestigious Culinary Academy in the Cape winelands in 2010.

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