When growing up, a few markers in Tsholofelo Matsietsa’s childhood inspired him to start climbing the ladder on his way to becominge a renowned chef.
A grandmother who loved cooking in big pots and who used to gather her grandchildren around her during a meal, created such an impression on Matsietsa that it has guided him on his career path ever since.
“I grew up in my late grandmother’s house with my siblings and cousins. The house was full of kids who were hungry – not only for food, but also success.
“Granny’s system of strict law and order taught us unity and progress. One could see the unity when it came to food. Granny would cook food with big pots to feed us all, and when we ate we gathered around her. She prefered to cook outdoors, although she owned an electric stove,” Matsietsa (31), from Pampierstad in the Northern Cape, recalls.
Amongst other culinary achievementsas a chef, Matsietsa won a silver star while competing against the best during a West African culinary competition in March. This was hosted by Troveworld Entertainment from Cape Town. He was invited for another competition in October.
He spent his school years were spent at the Simon Medupe Primary School and the Kgomotso Secondary Science School. After high school, he became involved in several ventures.
“Out of everything I did, cooking was what I was best in,” he says.
Matsietsa enrolled at the Mafikeng Hotel School to study Professional Cookery, and got hold of was offered a bursary from the Peermont Hotels Group.
“I worked very hard and assembled a team to compete in cooking competitions. We won every competition we participated in. I named the team First Class.”
Later, he was placed at the Hilton Sandton for training, consideredwhich was the superbowl league for aspiring chefs.
As the founder of Tsholo First Class Enterprise, and being a private chef, Matsietsa moves around. Currently, he is in Kuruman to train guest house staff, with the proposal for a food festivalalso taking his time.
- His message to the youth is simple: “No one is going to give you opportunities. You need to go out there and create your own. Having ideas and not implementing it will not give results. It will stay a thought in one’s mind.” Read Matsietsa’s full story on News24. Click on “Publications” and select “(Mangaung) Express” in the drop-down menu under “Local Newspapers”.
