An undercooked pie costs Simele a spot in the MasterChef South Africa Top 3

Beloved Zulu home cook Simele Shange, originally from Newcastle and now living in Jozi, was completely thrust out of his meat-loving comfort zone during a daunting pastry challenge that determined the coveted Top 3 of MasterChef South Africa Season 6. Those sought-after places now belong to Candice, Benjie and Nkululeko.

Simele was a standout contestant from the moment he strode into the MasterChef South Africa kitchen with purpose and pride, wearing his traditional umqhele (Zulu headgear). As part of the show’s charismatic brotherhood trio – the self-proclaimed “Zulu gang” with Ntobeko and Nkululeko – he delivered many of the season’s most unforgettable moments. Viewers loved his unapologetically carnivorous creations, the lack of plating finesse expected of a man’s man, his can-do attitude and his idiosyncratic sense of humour.

His cooking prowess was evident in his three challenge wins. Ironically, Simele’s first victory came in a baking challenge with what he described as the “only dessert in his arsenal“. Whenever things went his way, his trademark drumroll and “Boom, boom… boom, boom” were never far behind, and who could forget the times he rallied his fellow contestants with spirited war cries before cooks? Fittingly, he exited the competition with one of his own.

In the cook-off that ended Simele’s MasterChef South Africa journey, internationally acclaimed “Queen of Pies” Chef Nokx Majozi travelled from London to mentor the Top 4 in the intricate art of pastry. Awaiting them was a spectacular oversized pie, prepared by Chef Nokx, which concealed six exquisite miniature pies, serving as inspiration for what lay ahead.

As Chef Nokx explained, pastry leaves little room for error. For example, if the dough is rolled too thick, it will not cook through; if too thin, it will break. Simele confessed that he hoped he was doing the right thing, even though he had no idea what that meant.

So, when it was time to take his shortcrust pastry from the oven, a surprise awaited him: it released cleanly from its mould. He had never known he could actually make a pie.

Simele served a chicken and leek pie with a fennel and apple salad to Chef Nokx and the judges. Although the filling drew praise, Judge Zola Nene found the pastry too thick, particularly the lid, which was raw and difficult to eat. The dough also needed more salt, and the salad lacked finesse. Chef Nokx commented that the filling reminded her of the homemade food from her childhood but agreed that the pastry should have been rolled much thinner.

In the end, Simele and fellow Zulu gang member Nkululeko faced elimination. Although Nkululeko’s pie had a slightly burnt base, it was Simele’s undercooked pastry that caused his demise, while his friend secured a place in the Top 3.

Meanwhile, Benjie, the only home cook who did not craft a chicken pie, was named the winner of the challenge. Chef Nokx and the judges were blown away by his lamb pie with green beans, red wine sauce, mash and onion. Despite having had little success with his sauces throughout the season, this week’s was impeccable and, as Judge Justine said, enhanced the dish. Judge Katlego also commended the seasoning, while Chef Nokx gave Benjie the ultimate compliment: “I will never forget that pastry.” Benjie upped his game by preparing an advanced hot-water pastry.

MasterChef South Africa Season 6 keeps e.tv viewers on the knife’s edge every Sunday at 18:00, with rebroadcasts on the channel on Saturdays at 17:00, and additional airings on eExtra on Saturdays at 20:30 and on eReality on Sundays at 17:00.

While e.tv is available on free-to-air, the channel is also hosted on all DStv packages on DStv’s channel 194, and the CatchUp episodes will be on eVOD (watch.evod.co.za) from the day after the premiere episode. eReality is available on Openview.

Represented internationally by Banijay Entertainment, MasterChef is the world’s most successful cookery television format (Guinness World Records). Now commissioned across 71 markets, the life-changing show has aired over 700 seasons and more than 16,000 episodes to date. Created by Franc Roddam and first launched in 1990, the superbrand is known and enjoyed worldwide.

MasterChef South Africa is produced by the multi-award-winning production company Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios. The series was once again filmed at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town. 

For more information, visit the official website.

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