By Lehlohonolo Lehana.

Chef Lentswe Bhengu has died. Picture: Instagram @iam_lentswe.

Celebrity chef, cookbook author and television personality Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko has died.

"It is with great sadness that we confirm the untimely passing of our beloved son and brother, Lentswe Bhengu-Mafoko, fondly known to the media and his culinary family as Chef Lentswe," the statement, shared on Instagram, reads.

Per the statement, Chef Lentswe died at Sandton Medi-Clinic on Tuesday after suffering a short illness. 

"Details of his memorial and funeral will follow in due time." 

Chef Lentswe spent five years in the investment finance industry before he enrolled at the prestigious Culinary Academy in the Cape Winelands in 2010, per Travel Essence magazine. 

After graduating, Chef Lentswe began filming and sharing cooking videos on YouTube. This launched his TV career and saw him sign on as the host of Africa on a Plate, a show that incorporated cooking with travel and culture, which ran for two seasons.

Chef Lentswe also co-hosted seasons two and three of The Great South African Bake Off with comedian Anne Hirsch.

He spent time at big corporates such as Alan Gray in Cape Town and West Grow moving around retail, banking and then government investment on a larger scale.