Covid-19 has taken from us yet again. This time is it Lesego Semenya popularly known as Les da Chef in the twitter streets. The news of his passing were recently announced on Twitter and we are all truly saddened by the news.

Lesego loved being a chef but he wasn’t born one. This Soweto native from a family of boys, was an Process Engineer. After quitting his job, he decided to travel South Africa for a year and there after, enrolled at culinary school. He studied towards a Grande Diploma in Food and wine.

He worked at Game lodges, as a private chef and in catering. He cooked for politicians, high profile people, celebrities and on TV shows. His latest TV show was called Celebrity Mystery Box where he teamed up with fellow culinary expert, Chef Nti and they judged celebrities as they rated each celebrity’s cooking skills.

 

 

 

 

 

As someone who lived with diabetes, Lesego took every precautionary measure in place to protect himself from getting the virus, since it first came to our shores in the year 2020. He also often voiced how much he wanted to be vaccinated. Just a few days ago, he tweeted, “If I was told, come get your ja, at 2:30am, I will be there at 2am. Quick and Fast”.

6 days ago he went to the doctor with a sore throat only to find out that it was Covid. The doctor commended him for coming in early to seek medical help. His last tweet on July 9 said, “Day 5. Still fighting this Covid demon whilst living with a comorbidity. I’m OK, loads of medication and keeping positive. Thank you to those who keep checking up on me. Dr reckons I’ve seen the worst of it now and it’s just about recovery and rest now. ”

We were all invested in his recovery journey and truly believed he would pull through but sadly, he is now no more.

@MizMarcee said,

“It is with great pain that I have to share this: Chef Lesego Semenya @LesDaChef has passed away. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts. We have lost a huge part of our heart. We will never be whole again. R.I.P Lesego”

@karynmaughan said,

“@LesDaChef was SO in love and so excited about his new puppy, his projects, his life. He was so FULL of love.

I can’t believe he’s gone now. And we all have to carry on. Why, why, why????? It’s too much.”

@clarencesdb said,

“I’m crying…..I never met Lesego but I’m shedding a tear for him. That’s the power of good humans making your life sweet. #RIPLesegoSemenya #LesDaChef”

@Fana_ZN said,

“I actually read Les Da Chefs whole thread the other day about his Covid experience and how younger people with comorbidities have been let down by the vaccination system.This is so sad”

@GogoMagosha said,

“Just yesterday, I asked, where @LesDaChef

was because he had last tweeted 2 days ago, he is day 5 and the Dr said he is over the worst. How is this possible? No man… Someone so careful, so… I don’t know. Yoh. What a painful time. Rest well, Chef Lesego Les Semenya. ”



It is clear that Les touched everyone of us, whether we knew him personally or not. This also brings the conversation about younger people with cormobidities who needed the vaccine earlier but were not prioritized.

Our hearts are sore about this passing and we send our condolences to his family, his loved ones and everyone who knew and loved him, whether they knew him personally or not.

May your soul rest in peace Lesego.