Ukhozi FM DJ, Dudu Khoza; singer, Winnie Khumalo; former boxer, Vuyani ‘The Beast’ Bungu; former footballer, Pollen Ndlanya; businessman Barney Lehari; and lawyer businessman Thulani Kgomo will use their skill and life experience to ensure contestants are not fazed by the heat in the kitchen.

The 11-part reality series follows the journey of six women, who were nominated by their communities for their catering and cooking skills, as well as their selflessness in serving and supporting the people around them. Via various weekly challenges, the women will be equipped with business and culinary skills to better themselves. The show will also have a transformative impact on the women’s communities, as each weekly challenge is focused on addressing key issues in these communities. On completion of each challenge, the contestants will be rewarded with tools to improve their lives and uplift the communities around them.

Not only will mentors serve as advisors to the Kitchen Queens, but will also tap into their networks should additional assistance be required, and use their popularity to garner wider community participation for the challenges.

Meet SA’s Kitchen Queens mentors:

Winnie Khumalo

Singer and actress Winnie Khumalo will be mentoring Soweto contestant Hazel Khumalo. Born and raised in Soweto, Khumalo understands the ethic of hard work, coupled with a hunger to succeed, which makes her the ideal advisor for her namesake.

“I agreed to be a mentor on SA’s Kitchen Queens because I am inspired by people who are dedicated to making something of their lives. I know what it is like to achieve one’s goals, and still remember the joy of my biggest achievement, which was being able to buy my own home.”

Khumalo began her career at the age of 15 when she released the album Hey Laitie. During her long and successful career she has worked with the likes of the late Brenda Fassie (backing vocalist and lead vocalist), Pure Magic and DJ Cleo. She is also known for her acting ability, and has appeared in Muvhango Mponeng and the stage play The Journey.

Khumalo gave up the music industry for several years and then returned with her album I Just Wanna Live My Life, which showcased a new and more mature Khumalo who has since been unstoppable.

If given a blank cheque, he says she would open a centre to help fledgling artists. “There are people who come to Johannesburg from all over the country for auditions and have no place to stay. I would love to open a centre where they can stay while auditioning.”

Khumalo is a woman who is all heart and will certainly be an asset.

Vuyani ‘The Beast’ Bungu

47-year-old former boxer, Vuyani ‘The Beast’ Bungu will play mentor to Aurriender Belewa from Mdantsane.

Bungu was born in Mdantsane where he still lives. This makes him perfectly situated to assist Belewa as he knows the community well.

“I have plenty of contacts in the community and can assist her with solving problems she may encounter by putting her into contact with the right people.”

Having been a world boxing champion in the super bantamweight division in the late 1990s, defending the title thirteen times, Bungu is an expert on strategy and winning. He might have been known as ‘The Beast’ , but when it comes to community upliftment, he is all heart.

Dudu Khoza

Well-loved Ukhozi FM DJ and ambassador to Townships in Durban, Dudu Khoza will be mentoring Kwa Mashu Kitchen Queen, Zama Thethele. Khoza commands great respect in the community as a result of her charity work and community advocacy.

She is excited by the prospect of working with Thethele. “The opportunity to contribute towards changing a person’s life by transferring experience and helping them widen their networks is invaluable and much appreciated.”

Since the inception of the Crown Gospel Awards five years ago, Khoza has been one of the executive committee members and head adjudicator.

Throughout her career, Khoza has had repeated success in various campaigns and challenges. She also has a commitment to the upliftment of women and if she had the resources would dedicate her time to establishing a one-stop workshop, designed to train women in different skills. Khoza prides herself in being energetic, flexible and having the ability to adapt to different situations, an asset that will certainly benefit her Queen.

Pollen Ndlanya

Everyone who follows the game of soccer in South Africa is familiar with the name Pollen Ndlanya, as he played for several top South African teams including Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Most notably, Ndlanya represented his country, playing for Bafana Bafana.

Ndlanya was born and raised in Daveyton and is passionate about the community, making him the obvious choice as Daveyton Kitchen Queen Nokuthula Khumalo’s mentor.

“I want to give back to the community, so anything that will benefit the community gets my attention and my buy-in.”

This sentiment is not new to Ndlanya. He is heavily involved in the Daveyton community both as a soccer coach and as a business man. He runs two companies in the area: a consulting services company and a security company. Given the opportunity, Ndlanya would like to improve and develop sporting facilities in his community.

Ndlanya says he will help his Kitchen Queen in any way possible and will make sure that she gets all her challenges done on time. Khumalo is in good hands.

Barney Lehari

Soshanguve Kitchen Queen Windsor Ramokolo is lucky to have Barney Lehari as her mentor. Lehari is a well-known business owner and business trainer. He lectures as far afield as eMalahleni and Bela Bela on How Not to Fail in Business. Lehari is committed to Soshanguve and regards opening The Centre of Business Education and Training in the area as one of his finest achievements.

His roots in Soshanguve run deep, and he is a regular guest on local radio stations such as Shosha Radio, Moretele Radio and Mamelodi Radio.

He was a teacher before building a career in business and won the City Press Achiever of The Year Award in 2000.

When Lehari was asked what the best advice he can give his Queen, he replied, “I will show her how to manage the budget to achieve the best end-results. I will also encourage her to know her strengths and her weakness, which means she can work well with what she has and what she doesn’t have.”

Lehari is a South African success story and he has a very definite outlook on life: “The days of hand-outs are over, and people need to be trained to fend for themselves.” His dream is to be in a position to implement this philosophy, and educating everyone to become self-sufficient. Ramokolo will certainly be enriched with invaluable business skills.

Thulani Kgomo

39-year-old lawyer and businessman, Thulani Kgomo is the mentor for Secunda Kitchen Queen Manini Monoto. His family has a long history of community service in Embalenhle, where Monoto lives.

Kgomo is an astute businessman who owns his own law firm and manages a furniture store. When asked why he agreed to make time in his busy schedule to be a mentor, he replied, “I like being involved in anything that will make Embalenhle a better place.”

He also believes that with his vast business experience he will be able to assist Monoto with information and help her make the right decisions, which he feels is key to getting everything right.

Kgomo has his community interests at heart and feels strongly about job creation, mentorship, and furthering the education of school leavers.

Both he and Monoto will certainly make a formidable team on SA’s Kitchen Queen.

SA’s Kitchen Queens airs on e.tv at 18:05 on Sundays.