The first ever South African artisan chefs graduated at Prue Leith on the 29 January 2019, making culinary history and paving the way for chef education of the future.
The National Artisans Moderation Body established a Technical Working Group (TWG) in August 2015 from private and public providers as well as the South African Chefs Association. This group was tasked to design the first-ever trade test for chefs.
The graduation event was a culmination of three years of hard work from the TWG. Many hours were spent ensuring the Trade Test designed for the QCTO Occupational Qualification Chef was valuable and achievable for chef students and chefs in industry.
Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, Deputy Minister of Tourism, who attended the ceremony, commented on social media:
“This historic milestone will contribute towards developing South Africa’s food tourism as well as boost destination marketing and position the country for culinary excellence because all of the graduates who have qualified as assessors for the trade test are mentors at reputable chef schools across the country.”
She applauded seven top chefs that received their occupational certificates from the National Artisan Moderation Board (NAMB) at the graduation ceremony.
The graduates of the OccupationalCertificate: Chef Qualification will become the first Chef Trade Tests assessors in South Africa and were represented by training providers nationwide. They include:
- Adele Stiehler-van der Westhuizen (Prue Leith Chefs Academy)
- Carianne Wilkinson (Silwood School of Cookery)
- Elsu Gericke (South African Chefs Association)
- Fatima Stanley (Master Chef Academy)
- June Steenekamp (Independent Hospitality Consultant)
- TommieHurter(Limpopo Chefs Academy)
