From the college kitchen to the national stage: Ntokozo Zwane cooks her way to victory

Cooking is about more than preparing a meal. It is about creativity, precision and creating dishes that are both delicious and memorable.

This posture, mindset and passion have taken a Hospitality student at Ekurhuleni East TVET College from the college kitchen to the national stage, where she was crowned the 2026 Unilever Cook-Off Challenge National Champion.

Ntokozo Zwane’s journey reflects the value of practical education and what can happen when talent is supported by training, discipline and determination. She chose Hospitality because of her love for cooking and creativity, as well as her ambition to build a career in an industry where she can continue learning and developing her skills.

Her time at Ekurhuleni East TVET College has given her opportunities to turn that passion into practical expertise. Through hands-on training, assessments, competitions and exposure to the hospitality industry, she has developed greater confidence in the kitchen while learning how to perform under pressure.

Her training has equipped her with skills in food preparation, knife handling, cooking, food safety and hygiene, portion control and food presentation. Just as importantly, she has learned the value of preparation, organisation and efficiency, particularly when working against strict deadlines.

Those lessons became especially important when she entered the Unilever Cook-Off Challenge. The competition required her to bring together creativity, technical ability, time management and presentation, all while working under pressure.

Winning the competition marked a major milestone in Zwane’s culinary journey. For her, the victory was also a reflection of the skills and experience she had developed through her TVET education.

“My studies prepared me for the competition by teaching me how to work accurately, remain organised and perform under pressure. Winning the Unilever Cook-Off Challenge as the National Champion showed me that the practical skills I have developed through TVET education can help me compete at a high level,” she says.

With a national title behind her, Zwane is already looking beyond the college kitchen. Her ambition is to establish herself as a professional chef, with a particular interest in fine dining and gourmet cuisine. She also hopes to gain international experience in luxury hotels, restaurants and cruise lines.

Over the next five to 10 years, she sees herself as an accomplished chef with international experience and, ultimately, the owner of her own culinary brand or restaurant. Along the way, she hopes her journey will encourage other young people to consider hospitality and culinary careers.

Her advice to aspiring hospitality students is simple: start where you are and make the most of every opportunity.

“Learn from every practical session, listen to your lecturers, participate in competitions and take every opportunity to gain experience. Your background does not determine how far you can go. Your dedication, skills and willingness to learn can take you much further than you imagine,” she says.

Zwane’s journey also speaks directly to the TVET Month theme, “TVET: The inclusive home of occupational excellence – Driving the skills revolution.”

For her, the theme captures the role TVET colleges can play in creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds to develop practical skills and pursue their ambitions.

“To me, the theme means that TVET colleges are places where people from different backgrounds can come together, develop practical skills and work towards excellence in their chosen careers,” she says.

Zwane’s story demonstrates how practical education can open doors far beyond the classroom. From developing her culinary skills as a Hospitality student to competing against talented cooks from across the country, she has shown that dedication, creativity and perseverance can turn a passion into achievement.

For Zwane, TVET education has provided more than a qualification. It has given her the skills, confidence and platform to discover what she can achieve and to start building a future that could take her from the college kitchen to the international culinary stage.

* By Mamonare Mahlo, Communication and Online Officer: UNEVOC Centre at Unisa