The celebrity chef, author and television personality is calling on South Africans, especially companies, to become Hands-On Heroes for Mandela Day 2026
For Zola Nene, food has never been about what is on the plate alone. It is care. This is why the celebrated South African chef, author and television personality has partnered with Ladles of Love for Mandela Day 2026.
The Hands-On-Heroes campaign is encouraging companies, schools, families and communities to take part in Ladles of Love’s flagship Mandela Day volunteer events in support of the nutrition and education of 20,000 preschool children in under-resourced communities.
The events will take place at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday, 17 July 2026, and the Johannesburg EXPO Centre, Nasrec, on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.
Food has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mom is, and my late gogo was, a wonderful cook, and I grew up around family gatherings where there was always something beautiful coming from the kitchen. Even in primary school, I was taking cookbooks out of the library and experimenting at home. In high school, I baked cakes and cookies for friends on their birthdays.
“It was only after starting university that I began to think seriously about food as a career. I realised how much joy I found in cooking for people and feeding them. After my first book, I saw how deeply food stories connect with people. Sharing the dishes I grew up with encouraged others to share their own family recipes and memories. That is what makes food so special to me. A smell, a thought or a taste can bring an entire memory back.”
That early relationship with food became the foundation of her career, first in professional kitchens, then through cookbooks, television and the stories she tells through South African food.
“Food for me has always been about sharing moments, about connection and about sharing culture. Some of my fondest family memories happened around the dining table, sharing stories. Because both my parents worked full-time growing up, they always made sure we had at least one meal together at the table, catching up.
It was about more than just the act of eating itself; it was about nourishing both the mind and soul too. I believe the best way to truly get to know someone is to share a meal.”
This Mandela Day, that connection is being turned into action. Through the Hands-On Heroes campaign, volunteers will physically show up and spend their 67 minutes making, packing, creating or growing something useful. Goods made at the events will go to those who need them, while ticket contributions help feed children.
The cost of one ticket provides a child with two healthy meals a day for a whole month.
Volunteers will take part in one of four activation zones.
In the Make Zone, they will join the Sarmiethon sandwich-making challenge or pack nutrition boxes for preschools. In the Create Zone, they will make preschool posters, flashcards and activity workbooks. In the Craft Zone, they will create teaching aids such as bean bags, puppets and veggie trucks. In the Grow Zone, they will build grow boxes with vegetable and herb seeds to support urban farmers supplying preschools with fresh produce.
For companies, the campaign offers a clear and well-organised way to take part in Mandela Day without having to plan an initiative from scratch. Ladles of Love has already built the platform. Businesses can book their teams into a 90-minute session, give employees a shared volunteer experience, and know that their time and ticket contribution are going towards practical support for children and communities.
The work that the Ladies of Love team does never ceases to amaze me. They have set and exceeded their goals exponentially over the years, so many children are thriving today due to the direct contributions of the Ladles team. I am super honoured and proud to be able to do my small part as a hands-on hero at the Mandela Day event to help in creating other valuable tools to nourish the minds of the children.”
For Ladles of Love, this year’s focus on preschool children is intentional. Nutrition and early learning are deeply connected. A hungry child cannot be expected to concentrate, participate fully or thrive.
“A nutritious meal not only gives you much-needed energy but also helps lift your mood and get you focused and inspired. Expecting a child to learn and excel while being hungry is unreasonable; proper nourishment is vital to give them the best focus for learning.”
She believes the Hands-On Heroes campaign matters because it asks people to physically show up.
For those still deciding whether to book a Mandela Day spot, Zola’s message is simple.
Do it! Don’t hesitate! You are truly making a difference in a child’s life by just showing up. It might seem like a small gesture, but it is an important one; these children deserve our support. Show up for them.”
Tickets are available through www.LadlesofLove.org.za
Individual tickets are R300, and discounted tickets for students and pensioners are R200. Group and corporate packages are also available, with Section 18A tax certificates and CSI affidavits applicable to all tickets and packages.
Event details:
Cape Town: DHL Stadium, Friday, 17 July 2026
Johannesburg: Johannesburg EXPO Centre, Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Bookings: www.LadlesofLove.org.za
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Words and images provided.
