MasterChef SA Shock as Returnee Simele Shange Knocks Nkululeko Ngubane Out of Top 3

In a dramatic MasterChef South Africa twist, the competition’s Top 3 briefly became a Top 4 before returnee Simele Shange secured his place in the final three and sent Nkululeko Ngubane home.

Nkululeko’s journey had been one of the season’s most remarkable. After landing in the bottom three at the start of the competition, the Sandton-based graphic designer fought his way into the Top 3.

However, just one challenge after reaching the milestone, his hopes of competing in the final came to an end.

Former contestants return for a second chance

The episode began with Nkululeko, Candice and Benjie entering the kitchen in high spirits, entertaining the judges with a playful military drill, salutes and mimed gunfire.

They were then confronted with the biggest Mystery Box in MasterChef South Africa history.

Instead of ingredients, the box revealed former contestants Keith, Jeshen and Simele.

The excitement quickly turned to shock when the judges announced that the three contestants, whose journeys had ended because of technical mistakes, would receive a second chance to compete for the R1 million prize.

Keith had been eliminated because of a slightly raw egg, Jeshen had served too few scones, while Simele’s first pie had needed only another two minutes in the oven.

Nkululeko dealt a major blow

The judges explained that Keith, Jeshen and Simele would first compete against one another for a place in the Top 4.

The winner would then join Nkululeko, Candice and Benjie in an elimination challenge, putting one of their hard-earned Top 3 places at risk.

The announcement hit Nkululeko particularly hard.

“It’s like a punch in the gut,” he admitted.

Simele earns his place back

For the second-chance cook-off, Keith, Jeshen and Simele were tasked with using a selection of chillies to create a dish that balanced flavour and heat.

The judges assessed the dishes through a blind tasting, with each plate presented in a different colour.

The standout dish was the red plate, which featured duck.

When the contestant behind the dish was revealed, Simele had earned his place back in the competition, turning the Top 3 into a Top 4.

Contestants celebrate the flavours of Africa

The remaining four contestants were then challenged to create two aromatic dishes celebrating the diverse flavours of Africa.

Each contestant had to prepare one savoury and one sweet dish, with both incorporating at least one of the spices or spice pastes supplied by the judges.

With a place in the final Top 3 at stake, the kitchen became noticeably tense.

Nkululeko chose to make Jollof rice with spicy roasted chicken, despite never having prepared Jollof rice before and having tasted it only once.

For dessert, he made a honey sponge with honey-and-lime mousse, vanilla, cinnamon and chilli mango compote.

Nkululeko’s risk pays off in savoury challenge

When judge Zola Nene questioned whether preparing Jollof rice for the first time at such an important stage was wise, Nkululeko explained that he did not want to play it safe.

The decision initially paid off.

Zola praised the rice and was pleased that Nkululeko had followed her suggestion to include chicken. The judges described the dish as fabulous, balanced and perfectly spiced.

However, his dessert did not achieve the same result.

Zola was initially concerned that the sponge would be too solid, although she was more positive after tasting it and appreciated the Nigerian connection between Nkululeko’s two dishes.

Justine Drake disagreed, describing the sponge as solid rather than light and airy, while Katlego Mlambo shared similar concerns.

Sponge costs Nkululeko his place

Benjie impressed the judges with both dishes, while Simele’s dessert and Candice’s main course also fell short in certain areas.

The elimination decision ultimately came down to Nkululeko, Simele and Candice.

Despite the success of his Jollof rice, Nkululeko’s tough and rubbery sponge cost him his place in the competition.

Justine described the dessert as “adequate”, but at this stage of the competition, adequate was not enough.

A bittersweet goodbye between the ‘Zulu brothers’

In an emotional moment, Nkululeko handed his Top 3 spot to Simele, his self-described “Zulu brother”, whose earlier elimination had left him in tears.

Simele, Candice and Benjie now form the new Top 3.

Before leaving the kitchen, Nkululeko gathered the finalists into formation and said goodbye with one last salute.

One of the season’s most memorable contestants

Nkululeko brought humour, energy and creativity to the competition from the moment he entered the MasterChef South Africa kitchen.

Known as the class clown, he regularly danced, juggled ingredients and entertained his fellow contestants.

In the opening challenge, his attempt to turn phutu into arancini earned him the nickname “Arancini”.

He later became known as the “Kota King” after winning the street-food challenge and securing the travelling Street Food trophy.

As the trophy winner, Nkululeko will return next season to hand it over to the next recipient.

He was also part of the self-proclaimed “Zulu gang” alongside Simele and Ntobeko.

Although he had promised his son that he would not cry during the competition, the emotions flowed several times, particularly when he reached the Top 3 and when Simele was first eliminated.

Nkululeko may have missed out on the final, but he leaves as one of the season’s most entertaining and memorable contestants.

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