The season everyone’s been waiting for is finally here – a time when many take a break to gather as a family and revive cherished traditional Christmas recipes, all made from food grown by our hard-working farmers.
While some farmers are taking a break, they are very much cognisant of the work that lies ahead for 2026 in feeding the nation. They said the much-needed break will help them gather strength to push even harder for the following year.
Food For Mzansi asked a few local growers what special dishes will feature on their own Christmas tables this year.
Meaty blessings
Lebogang Mashigo, an egg farmer from Kwaggafontein on a Hartbeesfontein plot under Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in Mpumalanga, said her family will all come together for their annual gathering over the festive season. They plan to slaughter a sheep, a cherished tradition that symbolises gratitude for the year’s blessings. They will enjoy the meat with mabele pap at her uncle’s place.
“My mom is 65, and my uncle is around 66. They’ll be telling us stories about their lives, their past, and the farms they grew up on. They lived on a white man’s farm, and they have stories for days,” she said.
📢 Stand Up, Be Seen, Be Counted
We want to provide you with the most valuable, relevant information possible. Please take a few minutes to complete this short, confidential survey about your farming practices and challenges. Your feedback helps us tailor our coverage to better support the future of agriculture across Mzansi.
Meanwhile, Botlhale Tshabalala, a farmer from the communal lands of Driehoek Village in North West, grows maize, sunflowers, and small white beans and runs a commercial Red Brahman cattle herd.
He shared his family’s festive traditions, which also centre around a humble sheep slaughter. “I usually do the slaughter. Some years, we fatten a weaner calf, get it ready for slaughter, and prepare steaks, T-bones, wors, mince, and more.
“For Christmas, we’ll have a braai with garlic rolls and chakalaka. For dessert, malva pudding with custard and peaches,” he added.
Related stories
- Go green & Greek: Recipes for the perfect summer salad
- Spread festive cheer with farm-fresh Christmas gift ideas
- Stokvels save the day for families and farmers
- Drone spraying cuts costs, boosts yields for KZN sugarcane co-op
Greens and gatherings
Tebogo Makgatho, who co-owns Agrolimo Farm in Gauteng, explained that as passionate lovers of fresh, vibrant foods, their table bursts with colourful salads every year – each one a new creation born from their love of experimenting.
“There will be a lot of greens on the table and fewer rolls. There will also be dumplings; we love and share them as a family, and, of course, there will definitely be a braai and cold beverages,” Makgatho said.
Further north in Manini Village, Limpopo, mixed farmer Amanda Murungi will fill her festive table with vegetables fresh from her garden.
“I am definitely going to harvest vegetables from my garden for our Christmas meals. We always have a classic South African-coloured meal for Christmas, and we set our table with fruits. We braai different kinds of meat outside and exchange gifts,” she said.
Their dessert is always the classic traditional custard and jelly that her mom lovingly prepares the day before Christmas.
“We do tshidzimba as well; it’s a Venda traditional bean cake,” she said.
Whatever is on your Christmas table, Mzansi, enjoy it with gratitude to those in the agricultural value chain who make it all possible – from farm to fork.
READ NEXT: Sugar imports threaten local industry and rural jobs
