Bambanani annual cook-off returns to Diepsloot
Sampada Equity hosts competition
Sampada Private Equity hosted the annual Bambanani cookoff competition at Bambanani Mall, Diepsloot. Sampada is a proudly South African private equity firm established by a team of professionals with a passion for changing lives. It is managed by Umthombo Wealth Limited.
They partnered with O.B.I.R.T, Outliers Reading Books and Influencing Tomorrow, a non-profit organisation (NPO) offering wellbeing and educational programmes to the underprivileged as a catalyst to help them reach their goals and fulfil their potentials.
O.B.I.R.T founder and director Kgosi Mogase said their organisation did its ultimate best to eradicate “wicked problems”, such as poverty and lack of access to quality education in South Africa.
Retail outlets such as Shoprite, OBC and Douglasdale dairy sponsored the event with hampers and food parcels.
Community leader Joseph Mvelase is one of the organisers of the event. He oversaw identifying underprivileged families within the Diepsloot community.
Mvelase said though he went door-to-door inspecting households trying to source underprivileged households, he also worked with a couple of NPOS such as Africa My Home, in Diepsloot Extension 2, using their database.
On the other hand, Maria Mashudu Matshoko, who works as the liaison officer for Bambanani since its establishment, said she enjoyed being the mediator for the community and the mall.
“I communicate with the community, hear them out and liaise with the mall management to intervene and assist.
“We work together to achieve as a community,” she said.
South African actor and rapper Kope Makgae aka Tswyza was stationed at a photo booth where fans and community members engaged with him, creating fun Tiktok videos and taking photos.
Tswyza said he had made an appearance to help where he can.
“I do this without asking for money or anything in return.”
The competition was inspired by Heritage Day. It consisted of five contestants, each competing to be the best mogodu chef.
Winners:
• Angela Nkosi (34) won first prize, a R1 000 Shoprite voucher plus a weekend away at Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate.
• Lucky Qutyula (34) walked away with the second prize, a R750 Shoprite voucher.
• Namhla Khalipha (31) took home the third prize, a R500 Shoprite voucher.