PICTURE: SUPPLIED
The kitchen is heating up as The Taste Master SA returns for its sixth season — and this year, the competition is bigger, bolder, and more flavour-packed than ever before. Ten passionate and diverse home cooks, bakers, and chefs from across South Africa are ready to take on the ultimate culinary challenge, with hopes of being crowned the next Taste Master of South Africa.
From experimental flavour magicians to lovers of classic South African cuisine, each contestant brings their own unique style and story to the plate. Ahead of the highly anticipated new season, meet the talented foodies who will be turning up the heat this season:
Danielle Speek
City: Pretoria
Occupation: UX Designer
A UX designer by day and a baker by heart, Danielle brings a thoughtful, instinct-driven approach to everything she creates. Her love for sourdough and experimental baking was born online, where she found inspiration in creators who blend science and soul in the kitchen. She’s rustic, intuitive, and fearless when it comes to flavour, often crafting brilliance out of pantry odds and ends. Driven by a desire to make her parents proud and turn her passion into a career, Danielle dreams of one day becoming a full-time baking content creator and sourdough teacher. For her, this competition is a chance to turn instinct into opportunity.
Chevonne Fourie
City: Kaapsehoop, Mpumalanga
Occupation: Chef & Manager
Chevonne is a chef, hotel manager, and artist — in and out of the kitchen. Raised in the warmth of a family-run hotel, she credits her mother and grandmother for instilling a deep appreciation for the emotional power of food. She began cooking at the age of five, and she’s never looked back. Her French-inspired style is soulful and expressive, and every dish she creates tells a story. Chevonne is hoping The Taste Master SA will be the launchpad she needs to grow her business and build something lasting, all while making her close-knit family beam with pride.
Xolile Makutoana
City: Cape Town
Occupation: Project Coordinator
Cape Town-born Xolile is a self-taught baker and project coordinator with a deep respect for heritage cooking and innovative flair. Influenced by the spice-rich world of Cape Malay cuisine and inspired by South Africa’s next-gen baking stars, Xolile’s kitchen is where tradition and experimentation meet. His intuitive palate and love of hospitality have helped shape a style that feels both homely and elevated. For her, baking is more than a hobby — it’s a personal and cultural expression. If he takes the title, he hopes to grow his business, build his brand, and keep honouring the legacy of perseverance in his community.
Meggan Volkwyn
City: Cape Town
Occupation: Content Creator (City of Cape Town Events Department)
Meggan is a content creator at the City of Cape Town’s events department — but her true joy lives in her kitchen. She grew up baking alongside her grandmother after church, and those sweet Sunday memories became the foundation of her passion. Her style is rooted in traditional oven baking, but she’s not afraid to play with flavour and form to push herself creatively. With a dream of opening a café that also serves as a baking school for kids, Meggan is hoping The Taste Master SA will help her blend education, imagination, and community into something truly magical.
Kershnie Govender
City: KwaZulu-Natal
Occupation: Self-employed
With a cooking philosophy grounded in simplicity, boldness, and beauty, self-employed Kershnie blends fresh ingredients with fearless flavour to create deeply comforting meals. Inspired by her grandmother’s nurturing kitchen, she views food as a powerful tool for bringing people together. Kershnie’s dream is to open her own restaurant and she sees this show as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain the exposure, skills, and confidence to finally make it a reality. Cooking for her family — her biggest supporters — is her greatest joy. Now, she’s ready to cook for the country.
Mpho Moud Kgomo
City: Vosloorus
Occupation: Cook
Mpho is a bold, creative cook who believes the most important ingredient is love. A natural innovator, she’s constantly trying out new flavour combinations and reworking recipes in unexpected ways. Taught by her grandmother to cook with emotion, Mpho has turned that heartfelt approach into an exciting, modern style. She’s entering the competition not just to compete, but to inspire — and to show viewers how cooking can bring joy, unity, and possibility. With big dreams of growth and recognition, Mpho is ready to take her place in the spotlight.
Lucky Mashudu Masinya
City: Johannesburg
Occupation: Patisserie Lecturer
As a patisserie lecturer, Lucky lives and breathes pastry. His culinary heroes — like Chef Benoit Blin — have influenced a style that marries modern rustic charm with delicate fine-dining finesse. With an eye for presentation and a mind for flavour, Lucky creates desserts that are as artistic as they are delicious. He was inspired to enter the competition after watching past contestants live their dreams, and now it’s his turn. With a vision of opening a world-class patisserie in Johannesburg, Lucky hopes The Taste Master SA will be his springboard to global greatness.
Joy Tinyiko Sithole
City: Johannesburg
Occupation: Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
Joy is a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with a flair for flavour and a deep appreciation for the women who shaped her: her mother and grandmothers. For Joy, food is comfort, culture, and connection — and her style blends traditional South African dishes with creative, modern twists. Calm and heartfelt in the kitchen, Joy sees The Taste Master SA as a personal challenge — a way to stretch her creativity, prove her skills, and establish herself as a credible voice in the food content space. Her dream? To grow her platform, expand her culinary knowledge, and celebrate the joy in every bite.
Larce Raymann
City: Johannesburg
Occupation: Marketing Coordinator
Larce brings strategy and soul to her cooking. Inspired by her father’s precision and love for food, Larce cooks with calm, creativity, and colour. Her rustic style is elevated by vibrant ingredients and a strong visual sense, making every plate feel like a celebration. For her, this competition is a chance to learn from the best, especially her idol Zola Nene. With dreams of one day opening her own restaurant, Larce is ready to grow, cook, and share her passion with the nation.
Dustine Tobler
City: Pretoria
Occupation: Self-Taught Cook & Food Stylist
At 55, Dustine is living proof that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. A self-taught cook and food stylist, she creates visually stunning dishes that tell stories and evoke emotion. Inspired by the diversity of the culinary world, she’s carved out her own niche — blending authenticity, quality, and flair. For Dustine, food is a sensory experience meant to bring joy. Entering the competition is her way of stepping out of her comfort zone and into the next chapter of her culinary journey. She hopes her journey will inspire others to embrace their passion, no matter their age.Catch these culinary talents in action on
The Taste Master SA every Tuesday at 19:30 on SABC 2 – proudly brought to you by Clover. From heartwarming stories to intense kitchen showdowns and, of course, delicious culinary creations, this season promises to be a treat.
Catch The Taste Master SA every Tuesday at 19:30 on SABC 2, with repeats on Wednesdays at 13:00 and Sundays at 16:00.
Also see: Zola Nene leads the charge as The Taste Master SA returns for new season
