Nando’s Grillers’ Challenge comes to Atteridgeville
From 300 applicants, only seven were chosen to compete.
Seven Nando’s natural-born grillers took part in the 2024 Northern Region Grillers’ Challenge this past May 13 at Nando’s Atteridgeville, Atlyn Mall.
This year, the grillers competed for a spot to represent South Africa at the international competition in Botswana later this year.
For over 20 years, the Nando’s Grillers’ Challenge has been the platform for the best grillers to represent South Africa on the global stage.
The seven contestants had to prepare one full chicken mild, one half chicken hot, a quarter chicken leg lemon and herb and a quarter chicken breast mild for a chance to be one of the top three that will compete in the national round.
A panel of judges critiqued the contestants on appearance, portioning and basting, skin and tenderness, texture, and temperature as well as the brand standard of their dishes.
Project lead for learning and development at Nando’s South Africa, Garth van der Vyver said that Grillers’ Challenge is a life-changing competition.
“The guys that get to go to nationals in Johannesburg experience stuff that they don’t normally get the opportunity to experience. We fly people up from KZN, Cape Town, all over, and it’s the first time they’ve been to the airport, let alone on a plane.
We put them up in a hotel for three days and treat them like absolute rock stars. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the top four go to the international grillers challenge,” Van Der Vyver said.
The grillers were also paid a visit by Kwaito legend and South African music icon Thebe, who imparted some words of wisdom to the contestants.
“I told them I used to take their job lightly and it’s a very important job for them and us as consumers. We never think about who makes the chicken, we just think it pops up from the back. So when they explained to me what they have to do, the standards, the trials they went through just to compete, I’m in awe,” Thebe said.
Thebe looks forward to releasing his documentary before the end of the year detailing his nearly 30-year-long career in the industry.
The top 15 grillers from all five regions will be competing in June for a chance to represent Nando’s South Africa on the international stage.
The winner of the national round will receive either a home makeover to the tune of R10 000 or a one-year bursary to study at the institution of their choice. The international winner will receive a home makeover worth R50 000.
“I feel great because I really wasn’t expecting this. I entered this challenge without any doubt myself, I told myself that I’m going to fight, and I was going to fight until until, so I’m very happy,” said the 29-year-old winner, Mohau Moasa.
Moasa said that he’s been grilling for the past several months and is ready for the challenges.
“All you have to do is have a positive mindset and passion for what you do – always. Without that, you can’t have the self-confidence you need. I was scared but I told myself I’m going to do it anyway,” Moasa continued.
Third place was awarded to Donald Sekgobela while Ndivhuwo Shilling was the runner-up.
Northern regional training manager, Enock Bambo said that he was satisfied with how the challenge went after being nervous about the outcome before it started.
“I was nervous in the morning but I’m so grateful for how it came out. I’d like to thank the stakeholders who came in and supported it. We really appreciate it.
The Grillers’ Challenge is not going away, it’s something that’s here to stay and we’re going to have it next year. Hopefully next year it will be bigger than it is now.
One thing that I know and that is guaranteed, is that it has become a tradition. Every year we will have the Grillers’ Challenge because it’s a great initiative for people who work at Nando’s all over the world,” Bambo concluded.
