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Lesego Semenya

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Lesego Semenya
Born(1982-04-11)11 April 1982
Soweto, Transvaal, South Africa
Died12 July 2021(2021-07-12) (aged 39)
Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa
Education
Culinary career
Television show(s)
    • Top Chef South Africa
    • Celebrity Mystery Box
Websitewww.lesdachef.com

Lesego Semenya (11 April 1982 – 12 July 2021), also known as Les Da Chef, was a South African chef, media personality, and writer.

Early life and education

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Semenya was born and raised in Soweto. His parents were teachers, his mother a principal and his father a maths and science teacher, and he had two younger brothers.[1] He attended Greenside High School and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand.[2]

Semenya began his career as a process engineer for the IQ Business Group and a journalist for the youth magazine UnCut. In 2008, he decided to change careers after receiving a mild clinical depression diagnosis.[3] He took a gap year to travel the country before enrolling at the Prue Leith Culinary Institute in Centurion, earning the Grande Diploma in Food and Wine in addition to five other qualifications. In 2020, he received the alumni award for Inspiring Culinary Excellence from Leith.[4]

Career

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Semenya worked at The Westcliff at the Four Seasons, Johannesburg under Nicky Gibbs.

For the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Semenya entered and won a pie-making competition organised by the British High Commission, Pretoria. His pie, based on the kota dish from his township, became the official pie for British football fans visiting the country to watch the games. As part of his prize, he got to work at Corrigan's in Mayfair, London.

He then entered the private catering world, working for the likes of Howard Buffett, Alicia Keys, Bill Gates, on the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, and for Liverpool FC.[5][6]

In 2014, Semenya returned to his hometown to launch his business LesDaChef Culinary Solutions. After his experiences in fine dining, he made it his mission to make food accessible and celebrate the local, diverse cuisine of South Africa.[7] He made weekly radio appearances on Power FM to discuss food. He ran a food blog, notable for being based in Johannesburg rather than Cape Town, and used social media to share recipes.[8][9] He gave talks at universities and culinary schools, and consulted businesses.[10]

Semenya appeared on the Mail & Guardian's 2015 list of Top 200 Young South Africans. He was a judge on the 2016 season of Top Chef South Africa, with Neill Anthony as a fellow judge and Lorna Maseko as the presenter.[11]

In 2018, Semenya signed a book deal with Jacana Media and published his cookbook Dijo: My Food, My Journey, which became a bestseller.[12] In June 2021, he gained full rights to the book and intended to self-publish from then on.[13] He had plans to release a second book.[14][15]

In 2019, Semenya began posting videos, most of which were cooking tutorials, on his YouTube channel, which he called Dipitseng.[16]

Semenya and Chef Nti Ramaboa hosted the celebrity cooking competition Celebrity Mystery Box, which aired on Mzansi Magic in summer 2020.[17] Celebrity participants included Moozlie, Moshe Ndiki, Khanyisa Bunu, Zolisa Xaluva, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa, and Jo-anne Reyneke.[18]

Personal life

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Semenya lived in Meredale with his partner Sisipho Gcanga.[19][20]

Death

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Semenya took a COVID-19 test on 5 July 2021 and received a positive result the next day. He had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in April 2018. He posted a video in August 2020 about how he was staying healthy and safe. He was awaiting vaccination and while in care, criticised the medical costs, feeling the government had let "non-old" people with comorbidities down.[21] On 12 July, his manager Miz Marcee announced Semenya had died of complications related to the illness at age 39 after a short battle. News24 reported that he had died on 12 July 2021.[22] His funeral was held on 16 July.[23]

Tributes were paid online, in publications, and in person.[24][25]

Bibliography

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  • Dijo: My Food, My Journey (2018)

References

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  1. ^ Hartebeest, Chantélle (6 June 2019). "LesDaChef: Big man in the kitchen". Food for Mzansi. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  2. ^ Monaheng, Tseliso (4 February 2019). "Chef democratises food by going back to basics". New Frame. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  3. ^ "How LesDaChef changed his career and became a culinary sensation". Jet Club. 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Prue Leith presents distinguished alumni awards during her South African visit". Prue Leith Culinary Institute. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  5. ^ Scarborough, Linda (8 June 2015). "Homemade Oreos, Dagwoods and Dalewood Fromage: Chef Lesego Semenya shares his food favourites". Eat Out. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  6. ^ Kekana, Ezekiel (29 January 2019). "Dijo, My Food, My Journey Review". EW Blog. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  7. ^ Zulu, Thembalethu (13 December 2018). "Delicious recipes to try from LesDaChef's new cookbook". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  8. ^ Mbonambi, Buhle (12 July 2021). "A tribute to Lesdachef, the chef who took snobbery out of food". IOL. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  9. ^ Mposo, Nontando (9 June 2015). "Blogger LesDaChef cooks with attitude". IOL. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  10. ^ Legodi, Tlou (10 January 2021). "Having a supportive family made it possible to achieve my dreams – LesDaChef". 702. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  11. ^ Van Der Veen, Danica (6 July 2016). "Lorna Maseko bags host of Top Chef SA!". Glamour South Africa. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  12. ^ Liebenberg, Louise (1 December 2018). "Dijo: My Food, My Journey". Herald Live. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  13. ^ Moncho-Maripane, Kgomotso (13 July 2021). "In remembrance of Chef Lesego Semenya". Eat Out. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Find out what's cooking with Chef Lesego Semenya (and his new puppy) – Jacana Media's Author of the Month for May". The Reading List. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Lesego Semenya". SA POC at The Table. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  16. ^ "LesDaChef Gearing Up To Serve More Culinary Delights". Blacklight Media. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Lesego Semenya and Nti Ramaboa to host Celebrity Mystery Box". JustNje. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  18. ^ Malonde, Zamandulo (11 July 2020). "Celebrities box clever on new cooking show". Herald Live. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  19. ^ "LesDaChef – living with diabetes". Diabetes South Africa. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  20. ^ Canham, Tamlyn (12 July 2021). "People's chef, LesDaChef, succumbs to Covid-19". Kaya 959. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Celebrity chef Les Da Chef struggling to beat COVID-19". CelebsNow. 8 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  22. ^ Langa, Phumlani S. (12 July 2021). "Lesego 'LesDaChef' Semenya: A gentle giant with a big heart". News24. He passed away on Monday.
  23. ^ Kubheka, Thando (16 July 2021). "Family, friends remember Lesego Semenya's passion & accomplishments at funeral". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  24. ^ Ngenyane, Andiswa (13 July 2021). "Tributes pour in for Les Da Chef!". Daily Sun. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  25. ^ Biller, Hilary (15 July 2021). "Les Da Chef's death is a great loss for SA food". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
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