IT’S a MasterChef hat trick for judges Zola Nene and Justine Drake when the Mzansi version of the world’s biggest and most beloved cooking show moves into its new home on e.tv in February 2026. These seasoned MasterChef South Africa personalities’ three-in-a-row MasterChef journey began on season four, and this time they will once again be grilling the new batch of contestants in the pressure-cooker MasterChef kitchen alongside chef Katlego Mlambo, who joined them last year.
MasterChef South Africa season six will air on e.tv from February 2026 in the channel’s highly popular prime-time slot on Sundays at 6pm. There will also be reruns, reaching a broader audience on eExtra and eReality.
“I’m boiling over with excitement to be back again as a judge for the upcoming season of MasterChef South Africa. Having the opportunity to challenge, nurture, and grow some of the best food talent our country has to offer is always such a privilege,” Nene said. Earlier this year she won the Culinary Media Personality of the Year award at the prestigious 2025 Luxe Awards.
“If you’re a foodie who’s focused, knows how to multitask, has a deep understanding of flavour, and loves exploring new ingredients and cooking techniques, I would love to see what you can bring to the table!”
The MasterChef South Africa season six winner will scoop up the coveted title of MasterChef and an appetising prize pot of R1million.
Although the judging trio might turn up the heat and not mince their words when assessing your creative cuisine, MasterChef South Africa is a proven recipe for success. Over the years, several contestants have opened restaurants, published cookbooks, or become celebrity chefs.
MasterChef South Africa season six will once again be produced by the multiple award-winning production company Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios. It will be filmed at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town.
