RC 260812Cape TalkPippa Hudson
Wednesday, 12 August 2026
MasterChef finalists Candice and Benji shared their stories ahead of Sunday’s finale, before Wendy Nola tackled a practical consumer warning on compostable packaging contaminating recycling streams.
- 13:38
Candice and Benji will face off on Sunday at 6pm on e.tv for the MasterChef South Africa title and R1 million, after both described the final as emotional and surreal.
- 13:19
Candice said her nursing and corporate background, plus her family support, shaped her cooking; Benji said his electrician work in Kimberley helped him stay calm and methodical under pressure.
- 13:23
The finalists said judges taste food immediately after a challenge, so dishes are judged at peak temperature; leftover produce is donated to Meals on Wheels.
- 14:19
Wendy Nola warned that PLA cups and bottles labelled biodegradable or compostable should not go into normal recycling, because even 0.1% to 0.3% contamination can spoil a whole PET batch.
- 14:42
PETCO said consumers should treat compostable packaging as municipal waste unless they have access to proper industrial composting; clear labels for home versus industrial composting are still needed.