Chef Lentswe Bhengu Biography

Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko was born and raised in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), and she went on to become one of the most highly sought-after chefs in all of South Africa.

Bhengu-Mafoko spent the previous five years of his career in the investment finance industry before beginning his career as a chef.

Yet, as luck would have it, Bhengu-Mafoko made a pivotal choice to pursue his longtime love when he was 25 years old. In 2010, he took a leap of faith and enrolled in the Culinary School in the Cape Winelands, where he perfected his art and successfully launched his bustling career.

Reflecting on his start during a 2017 interview with Radio 702‘s Bruce Whitfield on The Money Show, Bhengu-Mafoko revealed that his last position before the career jump was a Business Development Manager at Allan Gray in Cape Town.

In point of fact, Bhengu-Mafoko had aspirations of pursuing a profession in the arts field prior to becoming a well-known celebrity chef. But his father swiftly put an end to those hopes when he sketched a bleak image of his son’s future in South Africa’s faltering entertainment industry.

However, as it turned out, the chef would convert his creative nature into a formula for success, as he would go on to become a celebrity in addition to being recognized as a culinary master.

From the beginning of his professional career, Bhengu-Mafoko has made appearances on a number of different television series, including The Great South African Bake Off, KFC’s Taste Kitchen, and Cheeky Palate.

When he passed away, Bhengu-Mafoko was the head chef for the online series titled “We Start 2023 Stronger” that was produced by Metropolitan and presented by Celeste Ntuli.

Age

By the time this story was written, he had already reached the age of 37.

 

Career

Chef Lentswe was born and raised in KwaZulu Natal, where he also began his professional career. Chef Lentswe also spent around five years working in the banking business in KwaZulu Natal. In 2010, he graduated from the Culinary Institute of the Cape Winelands with a degree in culinary arts.

He was the host of a number of different series, including Cheeky Palate and KFC Taste Kitchen, among others. On the Metropolitan program We Start 2023 Stronger, which airs on the network, he was a guest not too long ago. Bhengu, who was born in the KwaZulu-Natal region, has always had a strong interest in the culinary arts and eating. Following in his mother’s footsteps in the kitchen, he got his start in the culinary industry when he was just eight years old and became a chef.

Prior to beginning his studies at the renowned Culinary Institute of America in the Cape Winelands in 2010, Chef Lentswe spent a total of five years working in the investment banking industry. Lentswe began creating culinary films and submitting them to YouTube shortly after completing her education. This was the beginning of his career on television, and he went on to host the program Africa on a Plate for two seasons. This program combined aspects of cuisine, travel, and culture. He also served as a co-host for seasons two and three of The Great South African Bake Off alongside the comedian Anne Hirsch. Also, he participated in the semifinal of the second season of My Kitchen Rules South Africa as a celebrity guest judge. This participation took place throughout the competition. He played the role of the late chef Lesego Semenya, better known by his stage title Les Da Chef, in the Mzansi Magic program Celebrity Mystery Box. Lesego Semenya passed away in 2013.

When Bhengu enrolled at the famed Culinary Institute in the Cape Winelands in 2010, he decided to trade in his suit and tie for a chef’s jacket and apron instead of wearing a suit and tie. Almost immediately after earning his education, he began carving out a niche for himself in the world of gastronomy by producing mouthwatering dishes while working in the kitchens of some of the most well-known restaurants. Soon after, further opportunities presented themselves to him as a result of his expertise and enthusiasm for cooking, one of which prompted him to travel to Africa in order to sample the numerous cuisines that are found there. In addition to having some of his work commissioned in other countries, Bhengu regularly participated in culinary festivals, events, and expos. He also traveled to other countries.

 

Obituary

Family members will provide the public with information on the funeral arrangements for Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko. The death of a loved one is without a doubt one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through in their lifetime. It is necessary for any trip to have an endpoint in sight. Due to the unfortunate fact that the individual has passed away, their time spent on earth has finally come to an end. We wish him eternal peace and send our thoughts and prayers to his loved ones, family, friends. I pray that he finds eternal rest.

Kindly use the comment box below to honor the death of Chef Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko by leaving a tribute.

Cause Of Death

On the evening of Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the esteemed culinary expert who was featured on a variety of cooking shows passed away at the Sandon Medi-Clinic.

Although the message that was published on the chef’s official social media channels did not include any more information on the circumstances surrounding his demise, his family did refer to it as a “untimely” passing.

In addition, Bhengu-family Mafoko’s said very little, choosing instead to say simply that the famed chef “had the misfortune of experiencing a short illness and succumbed yesterday night.” They were careful not to divulge too much information.