Young people, aspiring chefs, local farmers and food entrepreneurs living within Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality have an opportunity to develop practical culinary, hospitality and entrepreneurial skills through the Sekunjalo Culinary Programme 2026.
According to the programme advertisement, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, in partnership with the Wakanda Food Accelerator, will implement a 12-month Sekunjalo Culinary Programme aimed at equipping participants with the technical, practical and entrepreneurial skills required to develop sustainable careers and businesses within the food value chain.
The opportunity is open to South African citizens or permanent residents who live within Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Applicants must have at least Grade 12, and applications close on 21 September 2026.
This opportunity may be particularly valuable for applicants interested in becoming chefs, working in hospitality or catering, entering food production, farming, or eventually developing their own food-related businesses.
Applicants who are still researching these career pathways can use the Career & Qualification Explorer to investigate careers and SAQA qualification pathways before deciding what longer-term direction they would like to pursue. Edupstairs currently provides searchable information covering more than 22,000 SAQA qualification records and 1,500 OFO careers.
Culinary Programme 2026
| Programme Details | Information |
| Programme | Sekunjalo Culinary Programme |
| Municipality | Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality |
| Partner | Wakanda Food Accelerator |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Target Group | Unemployed youth, aspiring chefs, local farmers, food entrepreneurs and SMMEs |
| Minimum Education | Grade 12 |
| Residency | Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality |
| Programme Focus | Culinary, hospitality, catering, food production and entrepreneurship |
| Availability | Participants must be available full-time |
| Application Method | Hand delivery |
| Closing Date | 21 September 2026 |
| Application Address | Sekunjalo Skills Development Training Centre, Tyip Tyip |
The Sekunjalo Culinary Programme is advertised as a 12-month development programme designed to provide participants with technical, practical and entrepreneurial skills.
The programme is intended for people who want to establish sustainable careers or businesses within the broader food value chain.
This is important because the opportunity does not appear to target only people who want to work as chefs.
The official advertisement specifically identifies:
- unemployed youth;
- aspiring chefs;
- local farmers;
- food entrepreneurs; and
- SMMEs.
The programme therefore appears to bring together culinary skills, food production and entrepreneurship development.
Applicants interested specifically in chef and hospitality careers should also explore the Culinary Development programmes on the Edupstairs SETA Platform.
The Edupstairs SETA Platform identifies culinary and hospitality development pathways covering areas such as cookery, food service and hospitality operations.
Applicants need to pay careful attention to the eligibility criteria because this is not advertised as a nationwide programme.
According to the supplied advertisement, applicants must:
- be a South African citizen or permanent resident with a valid South African Identity Document;
- have Grade 12;
- be a resident within Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality;
- be unemployed, self-employed or an entrepreneur;
- be readily available to participate full-time for the entire 12-month programme; and
- demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the hospitality, catering or food production sector.
Grade 12 Is Required
The second version of the programme advertisement specifically includes Grade 12 under the minimum eligibility requirements.
Applicants should therefore not assume that interest in cooking alone is sufficient.
Your Grade 12 certificate or appropriate educational documentation should form part of the application.
If you are interested in continuing your studies after this programme, you can use the Edupstairs Career & Qualification Explorer to research related qualifications, NQF levels and career pathways.
This is one of the most important requirements.
The advertisement states that applicants must be residents within Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.
Proof of residence is also one of the required application documents, and the poster specifically states: “Proof of residence (From the Counsellor).”
Applicants outside Buffalo City should therefore not interpret this as a national culinary programme.
The programme could be relevant to several types of applicants.
Aspiring Chefs
If your long-term goal is to become a chef or work professionally in food preparation, this programme could provide useful practical exposure.
You can also research chef, cook and related career and qualification pathways through the Career & Qualification Explorer.
Edupstairs recently covered another chef-development opportunity, the Royal Bafokeng Institute Chef Programme 2026, which illustrates another route through which young people can obtain structured culinary development.
Hospitality and Catering Applicants
Food preparation is only one part of the broader hospitality industry.
Depending on a person’s training and qualifications, career possibilities can extend into areas such as catering, hospitality operations, food and beverage services and related occupations.
Applicants interested in this sector should explore the Edupstairs SETA Platform.
The platform brings together all 21 South African SETAs and more than 1,000 programme records across multiple industries and NQF levels. CATHSSETA covers tourism, hospitality and related sectors, while FOODBEV SETA covers food and beverage manufacturing and associated fields.
Local Farmers
The inclusion of local farmers is particularly noteworthy.
Agriculture and food production are closely connected to the food value chain. Farmers interested in developing their knowledge of food production, value addition or food entrepreneurship may therefore find the programme relevant.
Applicants interested in agriculture can also investigate AgriSETA programmes through the Edupstairs SETA Platform.
The programme explicitly mentions food entrepreneurs and SMMEs.
That makes this more than a conventional chef-training opportunity.
Someone who wants to build a catering business, food-production enterprise or another food-related small business may benefit from developing both practical and entrepreneurial capabilities.
Required Documents
According to the Sekunjalo Culinary Programme advertisement, applicants need to submit:
- Latest school report card, latest educational certificate or Grade 12 certificate
- Certified copy of ID
- Proof of residence from the Councillor
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Prepare these documents before travelling to the application venue.
Your CV should clearly state your education, current employment status, relevant experience and any previous involvement in cooking, catering, hospitality, farming or food entrepreneurship.
Even informal experience can be worth mentioning truthfully.
For example, if you have assisted with catering at community events, operated a small food business, worked on a family farm or helped in a restaurant, this can demonstrate your genuine interest in the sector.
Do not invent experience you do not have.
