I grew up in Tembisa with my grandmother, siblings, uncle, cousins and my parents. For a family so big we all had to depend on my grandfather, who was not staying with us.
An old friend of mine who was a chef at Emperors Palace told me about the Peermont Community Benefit Trust, a CSI initiative offered at the hotel, and my matric got me one foot into the door of the programme. I was 19 years old.
When I started, I was hungry for education and luckily for me, my teacher, Chef Lehan Botha, filled in the basics that I needed. I learned knife skills, all cooking methods, flavour combinations and more. Chef Botha is my mentor and I always go to him for advice and ideas.
My very first dish? Chicken roasted over a beer can, though I don't make it at work, I make it at home every month-end with my family and friends. I believe it's a true SA dish because it's cooked on the braai with beer, two of SA's favourites.
My nickname is "Culinary Gangster". It came from my grandmother because every morning when I left to go to school she used to say: "Go and hustle, my gangster" - then it hit me, "Culinary Gangster" and it's stuck.
Celebrity chef David Higgs is who I've been working for since 2016 . He came to the culinary school to motivate us and in my head it clicked that this is the guy I want to work with. So I sent him an e-mail, then we started working together. I'm currently working at his Saint Restaurant in Sandton.
Cheffing is about long hours and working when others are having fun but honestly it's all worth it when you see people smiling and happy when eating the food I cooked!
What advice would I share with school leavers who don't have the funds to study further? There's always a way forward. It might not be what you want but you'll find your way as long as you're committed. And get your matric, it helps to open many doors.
I dream of opening up food joints in Tembisa to create jobs for people in my community and bring love and joy to my home town with food. I also want to be an icon so I can motivate the youth.
• For more information about the Peermont Community Benefit Trust, download the application form at peermonthotelschool.co.za
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