My Kitchen Rules South Africa

Mark and Mbali met in 2010 when they were paired in Zulu class at school and hit it off – and remain best friends. He’s a consultant at a financial institution – as well as an influencer – and she’s an architect. Mark entered MKRSA to amplify his cooking skills and challenge himself. He learned to cook in primary school – rather unwillingly – because his parents worked late and he had to prepare meals for his siblings. Mark wants to modernise African dishes and give them some flair – and loves pizza, burgers, and "anything with curry".

Mbali was taught to cook by her mother, sisters, and aunts who saw it as a mandatory skill for a young woman. Her signature dishes are traditional Zulu meals like steam bread and samp and beans – and her favourite SA dish is a lamb bunny chow. She’d love to document different types of cuisine from off-the-map areas and would also like to open a breakfast and brunch spot with Mark.