Sandisiwe Mbhele

By Sandisiwe Mbhele

UX Content Writer


Popular Les da Chef has died, a few days after tweeting that he had Covid

Les Da Chef is well known for creating a cooking community on social media and his cookbook 'Dijo'.


News broke that well known local chef, Lesego Semenya, known as Les Da Chef had died , he was 39 years old.

The announcement was made on Twitter by the account Miz Marcee. It now has been confirmed by his partner Sisipho Gncana. He was known for making traditional dishes more mainstream and with a modern twist. Gaining notoriety over the years, he created a cooking community on his social media, by sharing food tips and how to make our mom’s famous dishes easier.

Les Da Chef was also on TV cooking shows such as Mzansi Magic’s Celebrity Mystery Box. His cookbook Dijo become a best seller in 2019, he was planning to reprint it independently.

Just days ago, the chef confirmed he was fighting Covid. He said last Wednesday, “Day 3 of fighting Covid whilst living with a comorbidity. Thank you for all the support and kind words…and mountains and mountains of medical advice.”

Condolences flooded Twitter. Gncana shared a touching image of herself and the chef with a heart. Woolworths who have worked with the chef for their Taste magazine said they are deeply saddened.

“The whole TASTE team is devastated to hear of the tragic passing of our colleague and friend, Chef Lesego Semenya a.k.a @lesdachef, our beloved TASTETube host and unfailing champion of heritage food. ⁠ Les touched so many people with his talent, humility, kindness and unique energy and our thoughts are with his family, friends, Porridge and Lady Butters now, as we all struggle to say goodbye.⁠
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“We will miss you Les, but you left your mark on us all.⁠ RIP.”

One Twitter user, Khuze Elikhulu said: “Lesego is the best thing which has ever happened on Twitter. The absolute best. So generous with everything he knows. Hawu

This is a developing story

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