Paarl car salesman named boerewors champion

A car salesman from Paarl, Roberto Agrela, 33, has claimed the top spot at the 33rd Championship Boerewors finale, presented by two supermarkets at V&A Waterfront on Saturday, August 23.

The experts from the South African Chefs Association (SACA) evaluated the top 10 finalists from different parts of the country.

“En daar’s net een wors, dis die boerewors…” are the catchy lyrics in the Afrikaans song, Boereworsgordyn, by Robbie Wessels and Appel that sparked the idea for Mr Agrela to make his own boerewors for the first time. 

He spent the weeks leading up to the finale practicing and refining his recipe and braai techniques.

“It was my first time entering the competition, and I never in my wildest dreams thought that my passion for braai and inspiration from a song would bring me to this place. It just shows that you need to remain true to yourself, keep believing and trying, and always stay humble,” he said.

Mr Agrela won a R20,000 cash prize and was given a Toyota Fortuner as a gift.

In second place was Roland Blaauw, 47, from Wellington, while Asheel Beharie, 40, an entrepreneur from Ladysmith, took third spot. 

From Friday, September 5, South Africans can taste SA’s number 1 Championship Boerewors for themselves when it hits the shelves of local supermarkets.

The SACA congratulated the champion and said they were proud to have associated themselves with this competition for more than 30 years.

“This partnership reflects the credibility and trust of the SA Chefs Seal of Approval, a mark that assures quality, expertise, and authenticity. When South Africans see the SA Chefs endorsement, they know it carries the weight of professional culinary excellence,” the association said in a statement.