Championship winner is truly the Boerewors Queen!
Tasty new wheels for Shoprite/ Checkers’ latest annual braai muse
QUEEN Mathebula, a 32-year-old woman from Malamulele in Limpopo, has been confirmed as the maker of the best boerewors in South Africa.
This was as she was crowned winner of the 25th annual Championship Boerewors competition, which means that her recipe – South Africa’s number one boerewors – will be available in all Shoprite and Checkers stores nationwide from today.
“It’s fourth time lucky for me,” beamed Mathebula after being announced as the winner.
“I feel so privileged and honoured to have been a part of this esteemed competition and to have made it to the top.”
Along with the sought-after title of SA’s No 1 Boerewors Champion, Mathebula also won the grand prize of a brand new Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 Double Cab Raised Body Raider.
The other two finalists were James Lebepe, 34, from Atteridgeville in Tshwane and Moses Mathebula, 29, from Lenyenye, Limpopo.
All three finalists received gift hampers from sponsors Coca-Cola, All Gold and Simba, as well as vouchers from Shoprite and Checkers stores.
The South African Chefs Association judged the competition and ensured that all entries adhered to the guidelines for making truly traditional boerewors.
Mathebula was revealed as the 2017 Boerewors Champion following a charity rugby match between a team of former national players and some current players.
Former Springbok lock Bakkies Botha came out of retirement to lead the Braai Legends in a friendly touch rugby game against the Braai Champs, captained by Stephan Dippenaar.
The charity match was in aid of the Vusa Academy, a rugby and academic upliftment programme based in the community of Langa in Cape Town.
The charity angle was introduced to the Championship Boerewors winner’s announcement three years ago, and this year Shoprite supported the Vusa Academy by coming on board as a food partner to ensure that the 80 children who participate in this programme receive a nutritious meal daily.
Over the years, the Championship Boerewors title has been held by South Africans from all walks of life, from housewives to butchery managers – and even by a 13-yearold primary school pupil.
It used to be an internal competition that only Shoprite or Checkers employees could enter, but it was later opened to the public.