The month of March 2023 started with the announcement of yet another unexpected passing of a media personality. This time it was the confirmation that celebrity Chef and culinary expert Chef Lentswe Bhengu was no more.
"It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the untimely passing of our beloved son and brother, Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko fondly known to the media and his culinary family as Chef Lentswe," read part of the statement.
According to the family's statement, Lentswe succumbed to a short illness on Tuesday evening at the Sandton Medi-Clinic.
"Lentswe had the misfortune of suffering a short illness and succumbed last night, 28th of February 2021 at Sandton Medi-Clinic," said his family in a statement.
As they mourn the loss of Chef Lentswe privately, the Mafoko and Bhengu families have asked for prayers and requested some privacy. They further said that details of his funeral and memorial service would be announced in due course.
In light of the news of his passing, the family has now shared the official details surrounding his upcoming memorial and funeral services.
Details on Chef Lentswe’s memorial and funeral services shared
It seems that due to the outpouring of love and support for the Bhengu and Mafoko families following the confirmation of the passing of the celebrity chef, the family has decided to host two memorial services.
The first of the memorial services is set to take place in Johannesburg on Monday, 6 March 2023 at the Every Nation Church in Rosebank. The memorial service will commence at 13:00. This memorial service is seemingly organised to cater to Lentswe’s family, friends, and colleagues that cannot make it to Durban, which is seemingly going to be the final resting ground for the celebrity chef.
As such, there is set to be a second and third memorial service hosted in Durban ahead of his funeral. Both memorial services are set to take place on Tuesday, 7 March 2023. The first is hosted by his high school, Durban High School by the DHS Old Boys at 16:00.
Following this service, there is set to be a second memorial service hosted at The PlayHouse Company at 17:00 on Tuesday. 7 March 2023. After these memorial services, the funeral is set to take place on Wednesday, 8 March, a week since the news of his passing was announced. The funeral will be held at the Amanzimtoti Civic Centre Hall from 10:30.
The statement did not convey that the funeral will be held privately, as such, it can be assumed that members of the public can attend. Moreover, the family shared that all the services can be streamed. Moreover, for those looking to contribute, the official statement has shared the banking details to deposit what any member of the public feels they can donate to the memorial and funeral service.
