Mr South Africa 2015/2016 and Mr World 2016 finalist Armand du Plessis is a family man, and will spend this festive season, like countless others, with his loved ones.

In 2014, when Du Plessis was chosen as one of the top 50 Mr SA contestants, he was a 25-year-old final-year LLB law student at the University of Pretoria. When interviewed by the Pretoria Rekord about his achievement, he spoke about the importance of family, his ‘outstanding’ mother and then six-year-old nephew.

He went on to win the crown and in the eight years since, Du Plessis has gone on to do wonderful work for those around him, such as being involved in projects with DeskBags, Reach for a Dream and launching a wheelchair project.

But in terms of family being his pillar of strength, little has changed and Christmas is simply not Christmas unless he spends time with the people he holds closest to his heart.

“I look forward to spending quality time with my family at our beach house in the Eastern Cape. It is such a special time of the year to me and the ideal opportunity to reflect on the past year and be grateful for those in my life.”

Answering a pressing need

Speaking to Caxton Local Media, the attorney said he started the Armand du Plessis (ADP) Wheelchair Project, which expanded to the Eastern Cape this year.

Du Plessis explained the project started after he assisted someone with their will. The person passed on and the family asked if Du Plessis wanted to donate the person’s wheelchair to one of the charities he has worked with.

He posted on X (formerly Twitter) and was overwhelmed by the number of requests he received for the wheelchair.

I’d like to bless someone in need with a wheelchair…

If you know of anyone in need of a pair of wheels, PLEASE let me know.

Please RETWEET this post for awareness. 🙏🏼

“Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but what we give.” pic.twitter.com/8v4WrGAkv0

— Armand Du Plessis (@ArmandDuPMrSA) November 6, 2021

He has gone on to donate four more wheelchairs and said he will invest considerable time and energy into the project next year. “I look forward to taking this project to all provinces,” he explained.

Traditional Christmas fare

Asked what his favourite festive season recipe is, Du Plessis said he is a big fan of gammon. He loves cooking for his loved ones, he said, and shared one of his favourite gammon recipes.

Cranberry-glazed gammon with sticky French tarragon honeyed carrots

• 3kg gammon
• 1 large onion
• 30 whole cloves
• 3 bay leaves
• 10 black peppercorns
• 4 tbs brown sugar
• 250ml fresh orange juice
• 1 cup frozen cranberries
• 200g baby carrots
• 200ml water
• 2 tsp butter
• 3 tbs honey
• 1 tsp dried French tarragon

Method:

1. Weigh the gammon and calculate the cooking time by allowing 20 minutes per 500g.
2. Place the gammon in a 29cm casserole.
3. Insert 10 cloves into the onion and add it to the casserole along with the bay leaves and peppercorns.
4. Fill the casserole with water until the gammon is just submerged. Bring the water to a boil on the stovetop, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for the calculated time.
5. Once cooked, remove the ham from the casserole and carefully peel off the rind, leaving a thin layer of fat. Score the fat into a diamond pattern.
6. In a separate saucepan, combine the sugar and orange juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for approximately five minutes until a dark, sticky glaze forms.
7. Add the cranberries to the simmering glaze.
8. Generously spoon the glaze over the scored ham and transfer it to the oven. Bake at 180°C for about 25 minutes, until the gammon achieves a golden hue.
9. In a small pot, combine the carrots and water. Bring the water to a boil and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes, or until the carrots are tender yet retain their crispness.
10. Drain the excess water from the carrots. Add the butter, honey, and French tarragon to the pot. Allow the honey and butter mixture to caramelise for a few minutes, gently swirling the pot to evenly coat the carrots.

*Recipe courtesy of Le Creuset