16/03/2026
This past weekend we had to bid farewell to one of our own, a fellow chef who has hung up her apron for the last time and departed this earth — Rosina Tshegofatso. May her soul rest in peace.
I would like to sincerely thank all the chefs who took the time to attend Tshego’s funeral and stand with the family during this difficult time. Your presence did not go unnoticed. As chefs, we always say we are a family — but family is not proven by words, it is proven by presence.
It is important that when one of us departs, we show up and stand together. Unfortunately, we seem to see the same faces at many chefs’ funerals. That raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: what kind of family are we if only a few consistently carry the responsibility of showing up?
Another painful reality we must reflect on honestly is the visible divide that sometimes appears along colour lines. Many of us black chefs have made it a point to attend the funerals of our white colleagues, yet it is rare to see the same level of support when our black brothers and sisters pass on. This is not said to accuse, but to provoke reflection. Are we still that divided ngokwebala, even in moments where humanity and respect should come first?
Death humbles all of us. In those moments there is no hierarchy, no titles, and certainly no colour. There is only the profession we shared and the respect we owe one another.
On a personal note, I would like to thank Mahlomola, Lerato, and Andile for travelling with me to Rustenburg so that we could send Tshego to her final resting place. Your commitment to standing for our colleagues is deeply appreciated.
And to the chefs from Rusty Dusty — let us continue to stand together in both good and difficult times. Unity in our profession should not only exist in kitchens and competitions, but also when we say our final goodbyes.
Let us reflect, and let us do better as a culinary family.
