As you may have seen in
TVSA's New on TV Today, SABC2's reality baking competish The Taste Master launches a spin-off tonight (30 July) at 19h00 with the first season of a junior edition.
12 teen baking enthusiasts between the ages of 13 and 17 are competing for the title and a prize valued at over R200,000, which includes R150,000 cash.
The Taste Master Senior judges Zola Nene and Fritz Schoon are in the kitchen again to mentor and critique them.
Here's a recipe of who's who:
Afton Mathys
Afton, a 17-year-old grade 11 student from Cape Town, is a vibrant and talented individual who believes she's a perfect fit for The Taste Master Junior competition.
With a positive attitude, competitive spirit, culinary skills, and a sprinkle of humour as her secret ingredient, Afton is ready to showcase her talents on the show.
When she is not on TikTok, she's in the kitchen whipping up sweet treats!
In June 2023, Afton turned her passion into a business venture - say hello to Afton Bakes! Her home bakery business offers a variety of delicious baked goods, which she hopes to use to win over the judges.
Gabriella Brits
15-year-old Gabriella is from Mbombela and entered the show because of her love for baking and creating meals cherished by others.
Eager to explore new ingredients and witness the transformation of her creations into beloved dishes, Gabriella is excited about the prospect of travel, television exposure, and a bit of friendly competition.
This opportunity represents a significant stepping stone towards her future aspirations. Gabrielle describes herself as funny, charming, ambitious, and is ready to take on new challenges.
Her journey with baking began at a young age when she would concoct imaginative but inedible dessert plates, eventually leading her to discover her passion for baking while preparing a special Mother's Day treat.
Jahzara Ranjith
Jahzara is 14-years old and resides in the Western Cape. Her passion for baking started at a young age, baking alongside her grandmother.
When she's not baking, she loves to spend time with her family playing board games and enjoys painting and riding her bike to unwind.
Winning the R150 000 cash prize would mean that Jahzara can pay for higher education and study medicine.
Jahzara sees The Taste Master Junior as a chance to showcase her culinary skills and share her love of baking with the world. She enjoys experimenting with various flavour profiles and desserts.
Lehakwe Mafojane
Lehakwe is a driven 16-year-old from the Vaal with a passion for cooking and a dream of becoming a restaurateur to create job opportunities to address joblessness in South Africa.
Her love for cooking and baking has been a constant in her life since a young age, and she finds joy in creating new and unique dishes for her loved ones.
Proud to be a young South African chef, Lehakwe honed her skills in cooking classes that taught her the art of baking and cooking.
Her favourite treats to bake include chocolate cake, malva pudding, cinnamon rolls, and doughnuts – sweet treats she hopes to impress the judges with on The Taste Master Junior.
Lieschen Basson
Lieschen is a 16-year-old who cannot get enough of the culinary world! He's smitten with food and loves diving into different cultures and their delicious dishes. His biggest dream?
To become a Pastry Chef. He's hoping The Taste Master Junior will be the springboard to make this dream a reality.
Baking started as a hobby for him, but now it's a full-blown passion born in 2020 when his dad introduced him to the joys of baking during lockdown.
From starting with muffin mixes to whipping up everything from scratch, Lieschen is always ready to explore and experiment in the kitchen.
Lubabalo Plaatjies
Lubabalo is 16-years-old, lives in Cape Town and is a talented cook and baker who runs his own business.
With a strong desire to be crowned winner of season 1 of The Taste Master Junior, Lubabalo aims to showcase his skills and talents, garnering support for his business.
Passionate about inspiring youth to believe in their abilities, he is a dedicated community member and serves as the Junior Councillor of Cape Town through the JCC initiative.
A free-spirited individual brimming with joy, Lubabalo thrives on new challenges and experiences, constantly pushing himself to grow and improve - let's see what this season has in store.
Mabontle Ndobe
Mabontle, a 17-year-old baking enthusiast from Phalaborwa in Limpopo, is a talented baker who creates delectable treats passionately.
With a strong belief in her baking skills, Mabontle is eager to showcase her impressive culinary talents at the premiere of South Africa’s The Taste Master Junior competition.
Her determination to put her skills to the test among fellow baking enthusiasts reflects her ambition and drive to excel in the world of baking. Watch out… Mabontle is ready to compete for the coveted title!
Markus De Klerk
Markus is a 14-year-old from Middelburg with a deep passion for cooking and baking. He thrives on a bit of healthy competition and is hoping The Taste Master Junior will help him take his love of the culinary arts to new heights.
Alongside his passion for creating in the kitchen, Markus loves participating in sports like swimming, athletics, and hockey.
He's outgoing and entertains those around him, making connections. During lockdown, his fascination with cooking grew as he spent most of his time glued to cooking shows, which sparked a fire in him that led to him entering to be on the first season of the show.
Cooking is not just a hobby but a way to express his creativity and connect with people over a love of food.
Omphile Mohlala
Omphile, known as OJ, is a 14-year-old from Pretoria who has a passion for all things food, baking and confectionery.
Omphile possesses the skills, attitude, and dedication to excel in the culinary world. He believes that participating in season 1 of The Taste Master SA Junior will boost his confidence and also signify a significant achievement in his journey.
OJ is a bubbly, respectful, and fun-loving individual who enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and playing golf in his free time.
With a love for laughter and smiles, OJ discovered his passion for baking in 2019 when he decided to bake his birthday cake. As they say, the rest is history!
Quinley Wild
Meet aspiring chef Quinley, whose talented grandmother ignited his passion for food.
While he may not yet be old enough for chef's school, Quinley is honing his skills by cooking for his family and attending courses at Stir Crazy Cooking School.
His ultimate goal is to work as a chef on yachts and perhaps one day open a restaurant or enter the visual/social media food space.
Understanding the financial challenges of chef school, Quinley sees The Taste Master Junior opportunity to help his mom with the fees to pursue his dreams.
Joining this competition would fulfil his dreams and make his beloved grandmother incredibly proud.
Tineke Louw
Tineke, a 16-year-old from Paarl in the Western Cape, aspires to become the Taste Master SA Junior champion.
With a passion for cooking and baking, Tineke is determined to prove to herself and inspire others that she can achieve anything.
Winning the competition would be a dream come true for her, and the R150 000 cash prize would greatly support her tertiary studies.
When not in the kitchen, Tineke enjoys playing tennis and crocheting. Her culinary journey started with mug cakes and microwave meals and has since evolved as she experimented with new recipes and techniques.
Tineke makes her sourdough bread from scratch and is dedicated to cooking and baking her creations.
Suzanne Roux
Suzanne, a 13-year-old culinary enthusiast, found her passion for baking and cooking during the lockdown period, where she dedicated her time to experimenting in the kitchen and exploring dishes from various cultures.
With a genuine love for food evident in her creations, Suzanne believes she's an excellent candidate for The Taste Master Junior.
Her enthusiasm for learning and exploring the diverse world of cuisine sets her apart, making her a promising contender for the competition. Her culinary journey is a testament to her dedication and passion for cooking.