The fifth season of MasterChef South Africa was announced on 17 January 2024, premiered 13 July 2024 on SABC 3 and concluded on 23 November.[1] The season was won by Bridget Mangwandi while Nabila Shamshum was the runner-up.[2]
Returning judges for this season were Zola Nene and Justine Drake. They were joined by new judge Katlego Mlambo.[3] Filming took place from 29 April – 8 June 2024 in Cape Town.[4] Series Director was Geoffrey Butler.
Contestants
Top 20
Contestant
Age
Occupation
Hometown
Episode of Elimination
Place Finished
Bridget Mangwandi
20
Content Creator
Bloemfontein
Winner
1st
Nabila "Bealah" Shamshum
23
School Secretary
Johannesburg
Runner-up
2nd
Chanel Brink
34
Internal Sales Consultant
Durban
Episode 20
3rd
Refe Dimbaza
31
Financial Accountant
Centurion
Episode 19
4th
Lona Rode
35
Brand Developer
Tsolo
Episode 18
5th
Tebogo Mabye
28
Model
Johannesburg
TBA
TBA
Tinashe "Nash" Zwambila
38
Operations Director
Johannesburg
TBA
TBA
Naledi Matshitse
42
Homemaker
Muldersdrift
TBA
TBA
Amogelang "Amo" Maluleka
25
Community Manager
Johannesburg
TBA
TBA
Penelope "Penny" Rider
65
Retired
Johannesburg
TBA
TBA
Shreya Beekum
22
Recent Graduate
Ballito
TBA
TBA
Ketsia Malela
31
Influencer
Kyalami
TBA
TBA
Tzu "Tina" Ting Long
41
Owner of Frozen Dumpling Store
Cape Town
Episode 5
13th
Zakariyya "Zak" Ebrahim
46
Entrepreneur
Durban
Episode 4
14th
Melanie Jo-Anne van der Merwe
39
Entrepreneur
Stellenbosch
Episode 3
15th
Robyn Africa
28
Law Firm Manager
Johannesburg
Episode 1
16–20th
Mahlodi Lesego Matuludi
26
Self-employed
Johannesburg
Andrew Nye
42
Video Producer
Johannesburg
Lucas Roothman
33
Rugby Recruiter
Stellenbosch
Elaine "Ella Bella" E. Consrantinides-Leite
39
Educationalist
Bedfordview
Elimination table
Place
Contestant
Episode
1
2
3
4
5
TBA
Amo
IN
LOW
HIGH
IN
LOW
TBA
Bridget
IN
LOW
HIGH
WIN
IN
TBA
Chanel
IN
IN
IN
LOW
IN
TBA
Ketsia
IN
IN
IN
IN
HIGH
TBA
Lona
IN
LOW
LOW
IN
IN
TBA
Nabila
IN
IN
IN
HIGH
IN
TBA
Naledi
IN
WIN
IMM
IN
HIGH
TBA
Nash
IN
IN
LOW
HIGH
IN
TBA
Penny
IN
IN
IN
IN
LOW
TBA
Refe
IN
IN
IN
IN
IN
TBA
Shreya
IN
HIGH
IN
LOW
IN
TBA
Tebogo
IN
IN
IN
IN
WIN
13
Tina
IN
HIGH
WIN
IN
ELIM
14
Zak
IN
IN
IN
ELIM
15
Melanie
IN
IN
ELIM
16-20
Andrew
ELIM
Ella Bella
ELIM
Lesego
ELIM
Lucas
ELIM
Robyn
ELIM
(WINNER) This chef won the competition.
(RUNNER-UP) This chef received second place in the competition.
(WIN) The chef won the individual challenge (Mystery Box Challenge, Pressure Test or Invention Test).
(WIN) The chef was on the winning team in the Team Challenge and was safe from the Pressure Test.
(HIGH) The chef was one of the top entries in the Mystery Box Challenge, Pressure Test or Invention Test but didn't win.
(CC) The chef received the advantage of competing against a celebrity chef in this challenge. If they won, they advanced farther on in the competition, skipping a number of challenges. The chef could not be eliminated after this challenge.
(IMM) The chef won Immunity in the previous challenge and was safe from cooking.
(IN) The chef was not selected as a top entry or bottom entry in the challenge.
(PT) The chef was on the losing team in the Team Challenge, competed in the Pressure Test, and advanced.
(LOW) The chef was one of the bottom entries in an individual elimination challenge, but was not the last person to advance.
(LOW) The chef was one of the bottom entries in an individual elimination challenge, and was the last person to advance.
(ELIM) The chef was eliminated from MasterChef.
Episodes
MasterChef South Africa Season 5 Episodes
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Original release date
86
1
"Final Audition"
13 July 2024 (2024-07-13)
The top 20 contestants must each cook for a final place in the Top 15.
87
2
"Apple of Your Eye"
20 July 2024 (2024-07-20)
Mystery Box: The Top 15 contestants cook for the apple of their eye. The main ingredient that must feature in the dish is apple. The winner wins immunity from the next elimination.
88
3
"Legendary Pepper Steak Pie"
27 July 2024 (2024-07-27)
Pressure Test: The Top 15 must recreate chef Nokx Majozi's legendary pepper steak pie. Will they rise to the occasion or crumble under the pressure?
89
4
"It's in the Stars"
3 August 2024 (2024-08-03)
Invention Test: The chefs must prepare a dish for one of the three judges complimenting their star signs.
90
5
"Fashion and Food"
10 August 2024 (2024-08-10)
Invention Test: The chefs get paired with wonderful designs. They must create a dish resembling the design they paired with.