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. These seasoned MasterChef South Africa personalities’ three-in-a-row MasterChef journey began on Season 4, 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 6 will air on e.tv from February 2026 in the channel’s highly popular prime-time slot on Sundays at 18:00. 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,” Zola said.
“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!”
Judge Justine also encourages all home cooks who haven’t yet completed the entry form on the show’s website to follow their food dreams by entering the competition. “We’re looking for diverse contestants from all over the country whose friends and family come back for seconds when they serve their delicious dishes. MasterChef South Africa is the perfect platform to elevate your cooking skills. Who knows, the culinary world might be your oyster.”
The MasterChef South Africa Season 6 winner will scoop up the coveted title of MasterChef and an appetising prize pot of R1 million. The closing date for entries is Thursday, 16 October, and the entry form is available at masterchefsa.tv.
Home cooks over 18 who are South African citizens or permanent residents are eligible to participate in the competition, provided their main income does not come from cooking in a professional environment.
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.
Earlier this year, judge Zola, who will be launching more cooking careers on MasterChef South Africa in 2026, clinched the Culinary Media Personality of the Year award at the prestigious 2025 Luxe Awards.
The vivacious food queen’s impressive CV underlines her exceptional food flair. On television, she carved a place deep in the hearts of millions of viewers—from being the resident chef on Expresso to co-judging The Great South African Bake Off and being a judge on The Taste Master, tohosting her own show, Celeb Feasts with Zola and impressing the renowned 17-Michelin-star international chef Gordon Ramsey on National Geographic’s Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted.
Meanwhile, Zola made her mark by penning three best-selling cookbooks, Simply Delicious, Simply Zola, and Simply Seven Colours, which have all won the Best in the World at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
Judge Justine has also been a mover and shaker in South Africa’s food world for many years.
She has been the food editor or columnist of a wide range of print and online publications, including Fair Lady and Men’s Health. At the same time, Justine has written several cookbooks, starting with The Busy Cook’s Cookbook at the age of 23.
This busy cook has also whipped up a popular YouTube channel, frequently discusses cuisine trends on the radio, and has hosted numerous television programmes, including the BBC series Just in Africa, which showcased Mzansi’s rich culinary heritage, and her own creation, Just Cooking, where she inspired viewers to jazz up everyday go-to meals.
MasterChef South Africa Season 6 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.