Benny Masekwameng

Benny Masekwameng is an accomplished chef who currently wears the Executive Chef's hat at Mondovino Restaurant at Southern Sun Montecasino. This position is part of the prize package for the first winner of MasterChef SA. He grew up in Alexandra township in Johannesburg and was lured into the culinary world by his mother. She was a cleaner at a local Wimpy fast food restaurant, but started a catering business in her spare time to supply meals to workers at construction sites in the area. Benny helped out wherever he could and it is this early start in his mom's kitchen that set him off on his impressive culinary journey.

Andrew Atkinson

Andrew has represented South Africa internationally in various culinary competition arenas and has had the thrilling experience of cooking for various dignitaries and other VIPs, like our famous 'Madiba' (Mr. Nelson Mandela), The Queen of England - Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles, former US President Bill Clinton, Thabo Mbeki, UB 40, Sting and Whitney Houston.

Pete Geoffe-Wood

Pete is the owner of Wild Woods Restaurant and Contributing Editor for Men's Health Magazine. He played a key role in the renewal of Blues Restaurant and is the author of its newly launched book Blues – Essence of Cape Town, re-affirming the legendary status of this Camps Bay landmark. He is currently involved in developing 95 Keerom Street for Rhodes House, and is working with the Meikles Hotel group in Harare and Victoria Falls.