Stokvel groups around the country were invited to enter the 2016 Stokvel Cooking Challenge, sponsored by White Star Super Maize Meal and Royco® in partnership with Move! Magazine, to show off their creative culinary skills and win a share of the R50 000 cash prize. Stokvels responded overwhelmingly to the call, submitting recipes, their photographs and motivation as to why they should be considered to take part in the cook-off. Now, the top three in four regions have been selected to take part in the semi-final round.

On the 23rd of April the Love Thy Neighbour Women’s Club, Unity Society Group and the Siyathemba Stokvel will be competing in the Gauteng semi-final cook-off at the Elangeni Powertrade Cash & Carry in Daveyton. The contestants will need to impress the star judges – singer, actress and White Star celebrity chef, Lucia Mthiyane, and MasterChef SA 2014 runner-up, Siphokazi Mdlankomo.

Each stokvel was asked what they would do with the prize money:

Should the Love Thy Neighbour Women’s Club win, they would like to better their community by investing in a kids’ dance, sports and acting group that will keep the children busy during school holidays.

The Unity Society Group are active members in their respective churches who work together to uplift their communities and help reach out to the needy. They plan to invest half of their winnings and use the rest for emergencies.

The Siyathemba Stokvel wants to buy shares in big companies so that they can build a supermarket in their area in the future. They also want to teach their children and grandchildren to save money and use it wisely.

According to White Star Marketing Manager, Mokhele Makhothi, “We feel incredibly proud to be part of enabling these stokvels to make a difference to their communities.”

“We look forward to seeing and tasting the delicious dishes that the stokvels will be creating,” adds Royco® Senior Brand Manager, Khosi Snondo.”

Come and support these stokvels as they compete to be selected as the top group in the region, to represent their region in the finals, taking place on the 4th of June 2016.

There will be plenty of entertainment and opportunities for the crowd to win big with trolley dash competitions, lucky draws and more, The first semi-final will take place at Elangeni Powertrade Cash & Carry, Majutene Building, Shop, 1, Alliance Road, Daveyton in Gauteng from 10am on 23rd of April, 2016.