19 August 2024
Whilst some were lucky enough to make it on first try, many of the Shoprite and Checkers 2024 Championship Boerewors competition finalists have been refining their recipes for decades, submitting a combined 100+ entries before finally landing their spots in the Top 10.
Leading in determination is Ashook Beharie, from Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal, who has been entering for the past 30 years: “Winning this competition and having my recipe sold as Championship Boerewors throughout the entire country will be a dream come true,” says Beharie, a Regional Meat Market Manager for Checkers.
Ashook Beharie, a Regional Meat Market Manager for Checkers Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal.
Close on his heels is Rasheed Hassan, from Randgate in Randfontein, Gauteng: “I have tirelessly been adjusting and finetuning my boerewors recipe for 22 years and am super proud that at long last I managed to find the perfect combination of different spices,” said Hassan, a Regional Meat Market Manager for Shoprite.
Animal Health Technician, Werner Gouws, from Riviersonderend in the Western Cape, has entered the competition at least five times since 2006 and says that his wife and children continue to encourage him to enter because they firmly believe he makes the best boerewors.
Animal Health Technician, Werner Gouws, from Riviersonderend in the Western Cape.
The top ten master boerewors makers impressed an expert panel of judges from the South African Chefs Association (SACA) over multiple rounds to earn their spot in the finale to be held in Cape Town on Saturday, 24 August 2024.
Here they will prepare and cook their boerewors for judges Zanele van Zyl, Carmen Niehaus, James Khoza, Matthew Howcroft and Martin Kobald.
The winner will be declared on the day and will take home incredible prizes – including a brand-new Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD RB AT – and the coveted title of 2024 Boerewors Champion.
The winning recipe will also be for sale in Shoprite and Checkers stores nationwide from 06 September 2024.
The top 10 finalists in no particular order, are:
- Moshasheni Mabotja, who works at the Department of Public Works in Polokwane, Limpopo
- Werner Taljaard, a Checkers Regional Meat Market Manager from Yzerfontein, Western Cape
- Werner Gouws, an Animal Health Technician from Riviersonderend, Western Cape
- Rasheed Hassen, a Shoprite Regional Meat Market Manager from Randfontein, Gauteng
- Jasper Gordon, a Checkers Regional Meat Market Manager from Strand, Western Cape
- Ruard Briel, a Financial Manager from Centurion, Gauteng
- Debbie Nel, a volunteer at Domino Foundation from Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal
- Marthinus Verwey, a Checkers Regional Meat Market Manager from Bloemfontein, Free State
- Ashook Beharie, a Checkers Regional Meat Market Manager from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
- Elrico Jansen, a Trainee Butchery Manager from Kimberley, Northern Cape
The prizes:
- 1st Prize: Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD RB AT and R20 000 cash
- 2nd Prize: R50 000 cash
- 3rd Prize: R30 000 cash
Read what our Top 10 finalists had to say:
“If I win my first dream is to book and pay for my driver's license and my second dream is to donate to those in need, particularly the Domino Foundation where I volunteer.”
- Debbie Nel, first-time entrantfrom Amanzimtoti in KwaZulu-Natal
“I enjoy making boerewors and I wanted to share my recipe with the public. I tried different herbs and spices, but my main technique was keeping my recipe simple.”
- Elrico Johnson, a Trainee Butchery Manager at Shoprite Kimberley
“Winning this competition has been on my bucket list since one of my colleagues told me about it and I started entering annually seven years ago. It has taken many hours of experimental boerewors making. I am ecstatic about being selected as a top 10 finalist and I hope that I have created a boerewors with a flavour profile that everyone will enjoy and fall in love with.”
- Ruard Briel, financial Manager from Club View in Centurion Gauteng
“I have been building on every recipe that I entered. Now I finally have a winning recipe with the perfect combination of different spices that is worthy of being named as one of the top recipes in the country. I am so excited that my determination has finally paid off.”
- Marthinus Verwey, a Regional Meat Market Manager for Checkers
“It was a shock for me to make the top ten once again after so long. I’ve been entering this competition since 2009 and my previous win in no way dimmed my passion for boerewors. I am eager to share the taste of my boerewors recipe with the country.”
- Jasper Gordon, a Regional Meat Market Manager for Checkers
“Making it to the grand finale last year confirmed to me that I have the potential to win. I wanted to perfect my craft and try again.”
- Moshasheni Mabotja who works at the Department of Public Works
“I have tirelessly been adjusting and finetuning my boerewors recipe for 22 years and am super proud that at long last I managed to find the perfect combination of different spices for a boerewors that has made it into the Top 10 and is in the running for being the champion.”
- Rasheed Hassan, a Regional Meat Market Manager for Shoprite
“To be crowned as the creator of the best boerewors recipe is an opportunity not everyone can achieve. It will be a big honour to be the champion.”
- Werner Taljaard, a Regional Meat Market Manager for Checkers
- debbie-nel
- ashook-beharie
- ruard-briel
- marthinus-verwey
- jasper-gordon
- werner-taljaard
- rasheen-hassen
- werner-gouws