Cape Town Hotel School students reach for the stars
WINNERS: The CTHS team impressed the judges at the Reaching for Young Stars 2026 competition.
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Students from the Cape Town Hotel School cooked and brewed up a storm at the recent Reaching for Young Stars 2026 competition – scooping up some of the top prizes.
Held at the Taj Cape Town, the competition “advances excellence in hospitality, culinary arts, and sustainable practices continuing to kindle and awaken the next generation of movers and shakers”.
The CPUT participants were: Bongokuhle Mkhize, Linamandla Bekwa, Caleb Kannemeyer, Litha Boloti and Esinako Makata.
Bongokuhle, a final-year professional Cookery and Hospitality Management student, impressed with her bread-baking skills and won the first prize in the category Bakers: KitchenAid Africa Young Star Bio-Wheat Baker of the Year.
She said the competition taught her adapt when things don’t go her way in the kitchen.
Linamandla was announced as the Rio Largo Young Achiever winner and made quite the impression with her starter and main.
“I learned that just because you haven’t worked with a certain cuisine doesn’t mean that you should not be open to working with it but you have to keep an open mind and an open heart to learning.”
Caleb took second place in the Baristas category and described the competition as a great learning opportunity.
Litha Boloti placed third in the category for Beverage Students and said the competition helped him to hone his skills.
Ngizimisele Mosho, Food and Beverage Operations Manager at the CTHS, congratulated the students.
“All of you are winners. This is just the beginning and the first step in the career you are going to have,” she said.
The students were mentored by Sisanda Mpetsheni (Barista and beverage students), Antron Soga (dessert) and Athi Ntwankumba (starters, mains and baker).
Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: Frederickskennediji@cput.ac.za
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