The 2026 Knorr Radio DJ Battle wrapped up in Midrand with four SABC stations, DJ Zinhle at the stove, and a R20,000 cheque for Keamogetswe Pheto.

The Knorr Radio DJ Battle is, on paper, a cooking competition between radio DJs. In practice, it is something much more interesting: a month-long celebration of South African home cooking, conducted on air, in which the actual stars are ordinary listeners whose recipes end up being cooked live by famous faces.

The 2026 grand finale took place at The Breadbox Bakery in Midrand on 29 May, hosted by Lebogang "Funny Chef" Tlokana and judged by DJ Zinhle, Chef Sifiso Gwala and the Knorr marketing team. Four presenters from four SABC African language stations Zimiphi Biyela (Ukhozi FM), Mokopi Molebatse (Motsweding FM), Linda Nzuzo (Umhlobo Wenene FM) and Tholoana Moletsane (Lesedi FM) cooked dishes inspired by listener-submitted recipes featuring Knorr Soup as a key ingredient.

DJ Zinhle, a self-described beginner cook and Knorr brand partner, joined Chef Gwala for a live cooking demonstration that reportedly had the audience alternating between taking notes and laughing. The competition itself was closely contested, but Mokopi Molebatse from Motsweding FM was ultimately crowned champion thanks to a recipe submitted by Keamogetswe Pheto, who received an additional R20,000 from Knorr South Africa as the winning listener.

It is, as these things go, a genuinely warm story about food, radio and the kind of community that forms when people share what they cook at home.