The South African Chefs Association

The South African Chefs Association www.sachefs.co.za | SA Chefs is a non-profit organisation representing chefs, cooks and caterers since 1974.
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SA Chefs is a SAQA-recognized Professional Body and is a Level 2 BBBEE provider. Its core purpose is to set and maintain the highest level of culinary excellence, food standards and professionalism throughout South Africa. We accomplish these goals through the transfer of skills and the upliftment of individuals, our members… ‘The South African Chef’. One of our many objectives is to have a signif

icant impact on the careers of the chefs with whom we share the knowledge that our members have acquired through international food promotions, competitions, workshops, educational conferences and various other learning experiences. SA Chefs currently has over 12 000 members, who include catering and hotel company directors, restaurateurs, chefs, cooks, culinary educators, apprentices and trainees and can be found in every type of catering activity. The governing body of SA Chefs is a board of directors – 10 leaders in the catering world, elected to serve the interests of the Association in a voluntary capacity. Each region has its own decentralised organisation structure. The current partners of SA Chefs are :

- Premium
McCains and The Montgomery Group (Specialised Exhibitions)

- Gold
Tigerbrands Foodservice Solutions

- Silver Plus
TORK and Nestle Professional

- Silver
Unilever Professional

- Bronze
Chefs on App, Tsebo, Rebel Safety Gear, Urban Foods and Avanti Coffee Company

- Strategic
Shoprite Checkers, SACHEF Magazine, Chefs with Compassion, Department of Tourism, City Lodge Hotels and Southern Sun

Our training and demonstration facility at the SA Chefs headquarters houses the Southern Sun Centre for Culinary Excellence, with a state-of-the-art Skills Kitchen and Culinary Theatre and a reference library. This was created in partnership with the University of Johannesburg and built with sponsorship from companies in the hospitality industry. This is where we fulfill our mandate of training, offering subsidised, basic skills courses to members of the hospitality industry, be they formal or informal. Culinary Team South Africa has represented our country in the Culinary Olympics since 1980 and received official team status from the Bureau of Heraldry in 2008, becoming South Africa’s official representative in the culinary world. The Team is run on sponsorship and they meet regularly to practice both the Cold Table and Hot Kitchen, as these are the two sections of the Olympics.

🇿🇦 Let's get our chefs to Luxembourg!It takes a nation to build a world-class team.Team Masakhane, South Africa’s Junior...
07/09/2026

🇿🇦 Let's get our chefs to Luxembourg!

It takes a nation to build a world-class team.

Team Masakhane, South Africa’s Junior Culinary Team, has earned its place at the 2026 Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg. Now, we’re inviting South Africans everywhere to become part of the team behind the team.

These talented young chefs have the opportunity to showcase South African skill, creativity and food culture on one of the world’s most prestigious culinary stages – and every one of us can play a part in getting them there.

Whether it’s R50, R500 or R5,000, every contribution adds another supporter to their journey. And if you can’t contribute, sharing the campaign helps too.

🥘 Back our young chefs.
🇿🇦 Back South African culinary talent.
🏆 Back Team Masakhane.

Back a Buddy. Build a Team. Represent a Nation.

👉 Support Team Masakhane here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/take-team-masakhane-to-luxembourg

Team Masakhane, South Africa's Junior Culinary Team has earned their place at the Culinary World Cup 2026 in Luxembourg, one of the most prestigious ...

Sweet treats, rich heritage, and festive kitchens! 🍯✨Today, we wish a very happy Krishna Janmashtami to all our Hindu fo...
04/09/2026

Sweet treats, rich heritage, and festive kitchens! 🍯

✨Today, we wish a very happy Krishna Janmashtami to all our Hindu followers, chefs, and hospitality families. On a day deeply rooted in the art of making traditional milk sweets and festive treats, we salute the chefs keeping these cultural food traditions alive across South Africa! ❤️

02/09/2026

What's holding you back? Download the Future Menus 4 guide now and enter!

Unilever Food Solutions SA

31/08/2026

As Women’s Month draws to a close, today is the perfect moment to recognise the incredible women around the country who continue to keep the SA.Chefs Women in Culinary movement alive.

To our Regional Chairladies thank you for your dedication, leadership and commitment to creating spaces where women in our industry can connect, grow, be heard and be represented.

What makes your contribution even more meaningful is that you do this voluntarily, driven by your passion for our industry and your belief in the women who are shaping its future. You give your time, energy and expertise because you believe that together, we can make a difference.

South Africa was the pioneer of the Women in Culinary initiative, and what began here has grown beyond our borders, inspiring similar movements internationally, including in the UAE.

That is something we should all be proud of.

To every Regional Chairlady: thank you for showing up, for leading, for creating opportunities and for keeping the vision alive in your region. Your work is the heartbeat of this movement.

Women in Culinary — South African born, proudly growing beyond our borders.

30/08/2026

What a day. What a celebration of women in culinary.

The second SA Chefs Women in Culinary Conference brought together an extraordinary community of women for a day filled with learning, meaningful connection, honest conversation, laughter and inspiration.

From the powerful speakers and panellists to the women who arrived exquisitely turned out and ready to own their space, every photograph tells the story of an occasion that was as stylish as it was significant.

Our MC, Thato Wesi, guided the programme beautifully, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere throughout the day, while Divine Sunset Venue provided an exquisite backdrop for women empowering women.

Our speakers brought their insights, experience and soul. Thank you to Chef Zana, Portia Mngomezulu Portia M Skin Solutions, Prof Hema Kesa Food Evolution Research Laboratory, sth, Lucia Nombulelo Mthiyane, Elsu Gericke Capsicum Culinary Studio, Kayla-Ann Osborn Kayla-Ann’s, Yonela Motloung Unilever Food Solutions SA, Dr Erica São João University of Johannesburg, Chef Zola Nkosi Zola Nosi Nkosi Homeware, Ronel Bezuidenhout Capital Hotel School Phinah Kodisang Soul City Institute Justin Swartz (JS Fitness), Komona Govender (AryaVedic), Natalie Knight The Capital Hotel, Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo City Lodge Hotels Limited and Thandeka Feliti (SA Chefs Operations Manager).

Our sincere thanks to our sponsors and partners — Avanti Coffee Company, Creation, Dilmah, Divine Sunset Venue, Ganya Creations, Lotus Blossom, M&R Stainless Steel Cookware and Kitchenware, Razia’s Pickle, Renault, Semelo, Sir Fruit, Tiger Brands Foodservice Solutions, Top Notch Wellness | Aesthetics | Spa, Tork, Unilever Food Solutions Future Menus, Unilever Professional and Verdant Grace — for helping to make this special occasion possible.

Thank you, too, to our exhibitors — Semelo, Verdant Grace, Top Notch Aesthetics and Ganya Creations — who added another dimension to the day with beautiful products and unique experiences for our guests to discover and enjoy.

Most importantly, thank you to every woman who joined us, shared her story, made a connection and contributed to the energy in the room.

This is what happens when women come together to learn, lead and lift one another.

Empower Her.
Inspiring Women. Building Leaders. Creating Legacy.

29/08/2026

A clean kitchen isn't achieved with one product – it's achieved with the right product for each task.

With Unilever Professional's Handy Andy Food Safe range, every cleaning task has the right solution. Whether you're removing grease, disinfecting high-touch surfaces or tackling burnt-on oven residue, choosing purpose-built solutions helps protect your kitchen and your standards.

Discover why professional chefs trust Unilever Professional SA to maintain the highest hygiene standards.

Learn more: https://www.unileverprofessional.co.za/products/7/food-safe-cleaning-products

27/08/2026
As Women’s Month draws to a close and SA Chefs gears up for our second Women in Culinary Conference, we want to take a m...
27/08/2026

As Women’s Month draws to a close and SA Chefs gears up for our second Women in Culinary Conference, we want to take a moment to recognise the incredible women around the country who continue to keep this movement alive.

To our Women in Culinary Regional Chairladies — thank you for your dedication, leadership and commitment to creating spaces where women in our industry can connect, grow, be heard and be represented.

What makes your contribution even more meaningful is that you do this voluntarily, driven by your passion for our industry and your belief in the women who are shaping its future. You give your time, energy and expertise because you believe that together, we can make a difference.

South Africa was the pioneer of the Women in Culinary initiative, and what began here has grown beyond our borders, inspiring similar movements internationally, including in the UAE.

That is something we should all be proud of.

To every Regional Chairlady: thank you for showing up, for leading, for creating opportunities and for keeping the vision alive in your region. Your work is the heartbeat of this movement.

Women in Culinary — South African born, proudly growing beyond our borders.

Tomorrow’s SA Chefs Women in Culinary Conference is about more than inspiring conversations. Guests will also have the o...
26/08/2026

Tomorrow’s SA Chefs Women in Culinary Conference is about more than inspiring conversations. Guests will also have the opportunity to discover and support women-led businesses offering beautiful, thoughtfully created products and experiences.

Meet four of the exhibitors joining us:

Mamolefe Ntebeng Sehume, founder of Semelo, a fashion brand rooted in authenticity, identity and cultural heritage.

Meagan Job, founder of Verdant Grace, a garden-inspired wellness space created for connection, learning and growth.

Ke_Lesego, founder and CEO of Top Notch Group, offering restorative wellness treatments, corporate wellness experiences and handcrafted self-care products.

Ayanda Mubima, founder of Ganya Creations, an African botanical wellness brand offering bath salts, bath teas, body butters, botanical oils and candle sand.

We look forward to welcoming them - and everyone joining us i tomorrow for a day dedicated to empowering women, building leaders and creating legacy.

SA Chefs Women in Culinary Conference
Thursday, 27 August 2026
Divine Sunset Venue, Midrand

25/08/2026

Every professional kitchen has different cleaning challenges, and using the right product for the right task makes all the difference.From cutting through grease to disinfecting food-contact surfaces and tackling stubborn oven build-up, purpose-made cleaning products help kitchens maintain the highest hygiene standards.Discover how the Unilever Professional SA Handy Andy Food Safe range supports safer, more efficient commercial kitchens.

Learn More: https://www.unileverprofessional.co.za/products/7/food-safecleaning-products

Address

University Of Johannesburg, School Of Tourism And Hospitality
Johannesburg
2092

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00
Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
Friday 08:00 - 16:30

Telephone

+27114827250

Website

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