Tshego Sebitloane
Meet 25 year old Makhiba Modupe also known as “Mogastie”/ “The Lazy Chef” from Botshabelo.
Makhiba was born in Botshabelo, stayed there for two years before she moved to Ladybrand where she stayed with her grandmother, siblings and cousins.
Asked about how she got into the culinary business, she told us that she has always loved cooking from a young age even when they played “house” she would always be the one to cook.
After her matric year, she had intended to enrol into culinary school, but it was expensive so she then went to the Central University of Technology instead, where she enrolled for their Hospitality Management course. Makhiba says that the main reason for enrolling into that programme was because it would enable her to cook and learn more about the science of food. She furthered her studies and obtained a BTech in Hospitality Management.
After her studies, she went to work in order to pay back her bursary. She created an Instagram food page while she was still in varsity, and focused more on the page when she stopped working a year later.
She also has another page on Facebook titled “The Lazy Chef ZA”. “I had time to work on the food page, The Lazy Chef and the name just stuck with everyone” she added. From there she started getting requests for food delivery and people started booking her for events.
Asked what inspires her she replied, “just food, my entire existence revolves around food”. Though she has other interests, food comes first. Makhiba is also inspired by other chefs, home cooks, cooking shows, her friends, family and partner given that they are always complementing her cooking skills. She always wants to up her game and prepare nicer meals for them. She also mentioned that there are other young people who are doing well for themselves in this industry that inspire her as well.
Asked about her aspirations she replied, “I want to be the greatest female chef to come out of the Free State”. Makhiba explained that she also want to be recognized nationally and internationally; she first wants to make a name for herself here at home. “I want to be the Siba of the Free State” she added. Some of her aspirations include having a Culinary Academy for girls, a female owned restaurant which will be run by black females, owning food trucks and most importantly growing her brand “The Lazy Chef”.
Makhiba will be showcasing her work at the Manguang Food Festival taking place at the Mangung Outdoor Sports on the 30th of November and the tickets are sold at Pick n Pay. Check out her work on the social media platforms listed below :
Twitter and Instagram : @thelazychef_za
Facebook : The Lazy Chef ZA