Luyanda Mafanya

About

South African professional chef, event caterer, and culinary content creator who boasts more than 150,000 followers on her cookingwithluyanda Instagram account. Her social media accounts serve as a visual tapestry showcasing her passion for South African cooking and cuisines inspired by her world travels. Her achievements in the culinary sphere have led her to be featured by media outlets including The Sunday Times and Afternoon Express. She has also competed on Kitchen Rules South Africa, where she was named a semifinalist, and MasterChef South Africa, where she finished in the Top 10.

Before fame

Having received no formal training, she honed her culinary skills over time solely through steady practice and her enduring passion for food. She began cooking at the age of 7 and continued to do so as a way to feel close to her late grandmother. She has stated that her big break came when she got the opportunity to cook for South African rapper Cassper Nyovest.

Trivia

She is a passionate advocate for sustainability and utilizing fresh, locally sourced ingredients. She is also a devoted philanthropist who has worked with brands such as Ford South Africa to provide new textbooks to those in need. In September 2025, she partnered with White Star Super Maize Meal to break the world record for the Biggest Braai during Heritage Day at Loftus.

Family life

In 2023, she shared a video on her Instagram account in which she shared a meal from Pedro's Flame Grilled Chicken with her nieces.

Associated with

She was featured on Lucky Star's web series In the Mix alongside celebrity collaborators such as Zillewizzy, Naledi Aphiwe, and Relebohile Mofokeng.