LeJoy Mathatho talks Magadi feast and Come Dine With Me SA

Radio personality Lethabo “LeJoy” Mathatho has shared details of her recent Magadi celebration and her stint on “Come Dine With Me South Africa”, according to IOL. She says food, for her, is tied to family, culture and memory.

A Magadi built around home cooking

The celebration brought her family and her husband’s family together. Mathatho said she is still getting used to calling someone “my husband”, and that seeing both families in one place showed her it was “the beginning of a new family”.

She asked chef Nomvula to put together a menu of traditional dishes that would remind guests of home. The table held pap, samp and beans, and rice with dumplings. Meat lovers had beef stew and marinated braai chicken, while mogodu, trotters and fish rounded out the mains. Sides included pumpkin, spinach prepared with peppers, other seasonal vegetables and a selection of salads. Dessert was malva pudding with custard, plus assorted cheesecakes.

She thanked her service providers and coordinator for a smooth day. The family also spent a month in prayer beforehand, fasting and praying two days a week. “God answered,” she said.

Food, romance and family rituals

Mathatho said her husband won her over early on by spoiling her with meals and flowers. Her ideal date is dinner under the stars, as long as the company and conversation are good. She likes trying new recipes from online, while his oxtail is a dish she says she cannot rival. Asked whose fault a burnt meal would be, she jokingly pointed at him.

Certain dishes bring back memories. Seven colours reminds her of Sunday lunches with family after church. With mogodu, her family has a habit of gathering for a meal the day before a Saturday occasion, and they kept that up before the Magadi.

Stepping into hosting on television

Mathatho said she joined the show to let people see more than they already know of her. She found that hosting means managing time, keeping guests comfortable and still enjoying the evening. She is also learning that not everything has to be perfect, and that improvising can help. She sums up her hosting style as “Warm, intentional, and unforgettable.”

Her dream dinner guests

If she could invite three South African public figures, she would start with fellow breakfast radio host Anele Mdoda. They could discuss how few women hold such slots, and she would like to hear about Mdoda’s work as a television producer.

Next would be J’Something, the Mi Casa frontman, along with his wife. Mathatho would like their views on marriage and, perhaps, a song. Her third choice is President Cyril Ramaphosa. “Like any other citizen, I have concerns about our country,” she said, adding that a meal could be a good setting to raise them.

This story is based on reporting by IOL.