South Africa’s (SA) hospitality and food scene is buzzing like never before, opening doors for chefs, bakers, event planners, hotel pros, and anyone ready to turn a passion for food and travel into a career.

The country’s foodservice industry is set to hit R640.5 billion ($35.6 billion) this year, while personal chef services alone could reach R15.2 billion ($844 million) by 2030, as more South Africans hire private chefs for holidays, dinner parties, and retreats.

Capsicum Culinary Studio is helping students ride this wave with hands-on programmes that go beyond recipes. Beginners can learn the essentials in Foundational Cookery or Assistant Baker courses, while aspiring pros can dive into Professional Chef or Professional Patisserie programmes. For those serious about long-term careers, the Advanced Professional Chef programme combines three years of practical experience with top-tier mentorship, preparing graduates to run high-end kitchens anywhere in the world or even start their own culinary ventures.

Hospitality isn’t just about cooking. Front-of-house skills, hotel management, and event planning are in high demand as tourism and travel surge. Capsicum trains students to excel in guest services, reception, and food and beverage supervision, while Conferencing & Events courses teach everything from budgeting to client management. Even pastry lovers are catered for, with programmes teaching advanced baking, confectionery, and dessert artistry, or a combination of cooking and baking for a well-rounded start.

Globally, chef jobs are set to grow by 11% by 2030, and hotels are actively seeking talent, making this the perfect moment to step in. With courses starting in March 2026, Capsicum offers the experience, guidance, and internationally recognised qualifications students need to thrive locally or abroad.

From kitchens to cruise ships, bakeries to boardrooms, SA’s hospitality and food industries are brimming with opportunity.

–ChannelAfrica–