(13 September 2017) A 32-year old woman from Malamulele, Limpopo, makes the best boerewors in South Africa. Queen Mathebula was crowned the winner of the 25th annual Championship Boerewors competition and her recipe - South Africa’s number one boerewors - will be available in all Shoprite and Checkers stores nationwide from Friday, 15 September 2017.

“It’s fourth time lucky for me,” beamed Mathebula. “I feel so privileged and honoured to have been a part of this esteemed competition and to have made it to the top.”

Along with the sought-after title of SA’s No.1 Boerewors Champion, Mathebula has also won the grand prize of a brand new Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 Double Cab Raised Body Raider.

The other two finalists were James Lebepe (34) from Atteridgeville, Gauteng and Moses Mathebula (29) from Lenyenye, Limpopo. All three finalists received gift hampers from sponsors Coca Cola, All Gold and Simba, as well as vouchers from Shoprite and Checkers stores.

Mathebula was revealed as the 2017 Championship Boerewors winner following an exciting charity rugby match between a team of former national players and some current rugby world champions.

Ex-Springbok Bakkies Botha came out of retirement to lead the ‘Braai Legends’ in a friendly touch rugby game against the ‘Braai Champs’, captained by Stephan Dippenaar. The charity match was in aid of the VUSA Academy, a rugby and academic upliftment programme based in the community of Langa.

As a business with heart, Shoprite reaches out to and supports local communities. To this end, a charity angle was introduced to the Championship Boerewors winner’s announcement three years ago and in 2017, Shoprite is supporting the VUSA Academy by coming on board as a food partner to ensure that the 80 children who participate in this programme, receive a nutrious meal every day.

Shoprite’s partnership with VUSA forms part of its extensive hunger relief programme, the core focus of the retailer’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives. Shoprite’s vision is ultimately to establish food gardens at the VUSA Academy’s four beneficiary schools in Langa, so that they may have access to a sustainable food source.