New culinary gem wins prestigious eThekwini Municipality award
From right: Mayor Cyril Xaba handing over a trophy to Mushroom Lounge owner, Sibongiseni Mbambo (in maroon suit) with (from left) Kwezi Ndlovu-Mbambo, business mogul Vivian Reddy and eThekwini Municipality councillor Thembo Ntuli.
Image: supplied
The Durban owned eatery, Mushroom Lounge scooped the prestigious Best Durban Restaurant Award during the 4th annual Durban Tourism Business Awards event in Durban recently.
The eatery, owned by Sibongiseni Mageza Mbambo, was announced as overall winner in the restaurants category.
Speaking after the win, Mbambo said he was shocked when he was called on stage as he did not expect to win any award with the restaurant only established a year ago.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad Loading
'We wish to thank our customers for their support and for believing in our food. Many people questioned me on whether I did good marketing research when I opened this place, (which specialises) in traditional food.
"Today I am proud of my decision. Tourists from all over the country come to enjoy the traditional food here,' said Mbambo.
He said he was also thankful for the support of the eThekwini Municipality and Durban Tourism as well the blessings he received from King Misuzulu kaZwelithini who visited the restaurant last year. The eatery was established in April last year and was recently invited to showcase African cuisine in New York.
Speaking at the event, eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba congratulated the Mushroom Lounge and winners in various categories. The mayor said there were 161 entries for the awards and the Durban Tourism Business Awards were created to honour innovation and excellence within the tourism sector, providing a platform to showcase Durban as the best tourism and investment destination.
"After an extensive adjudication process, the finalists were selected ranging from hotels and crafters to tour operators and rickshaw pullers. The City is pleased with the interest shown by tourism product owners in the awards, demonstrated by the increase in submissions in certain categories,' said Xaba.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards announces winners
Hundreds of guests gathered at the Luxx Venue in Sandton on the evening of June 21 to celebrate youth excellence at the 4th annual Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (Yoba). Since its inception in 2022, Yoba has become a prestigious platform recognising young entrepreneurs who are making significant impact across Africa in various sectors, from creative arts to technology. The event showcased a diverse array of categories, including Creative & Arts, Agriculture, Food & Beverage, Hair & Beauty, Media, NPO & Charities, Travel & Tourism, Services, Technology, Health & Wellness, Education & Literature, Pan African Brand, Footwear & Accessories, Personalities & Influencers, and Manufacturing. It celebrated young visionaries who are not only contributing to the economy but also shaping the continent's image on the global stage. Yoba founder and CEO Pat Mahlangu expressed his passion for youth development and innovation. 'We are here to celebrate youth excellence. This awards platform was born out of my desire to support young people and to make an impact in their lives. It's exciting to see our first international guest from Namibia receiving an award in person, and to have two previous award winners on stage hosting this ceremony for us. We aim to push boundaries and challenge the status quo.' @caxtonjoburgnorth The 4th annual Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Award winners announced at Luxx Venue, Sandton on the evening of June 21, 2025. Awardshow Sandton ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North – Caxton Joburg North Among the standout winners was Grace Mondlana, a multiple award-winning content creator and recipient of the Top Personalities and Influencers Award. 'I want to thank God because every time I create content, I think: 'This cannot be humanly possible', and to my community, thank you so much for your unwavering support.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
New culinary gem wins prestigious eThekwini Municipality award
From right: Mayor Cyril Xaba handing over a trophy to Mushroom Lounge owner, Sibongiseni Mbambo (in maroon suit) with (from left) Kwezi Ndlovu-Mbambo, business mogul Vivian Reddy and eThekwini Municipality councillor Thembo Ntuli. Image: supplied The Durban owned eatery, Mushroom Lounge scooped the prestigious Best Durban Restaurant Award during the 4th annual Durban Tourism Business Awards event in Durban recently. The eatery, owned by Sibongiseni Mageza Mbambo, was announced as overall winner in the restaurants category. Speaking after the win, Mbambo said he was shocked when he was called on stage as he did not expect to win any award with the restaurant only established a year ago. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'We wish to thank our customers for their support and for believing in our food. Many people questioned me on whether I did good marketing research when I opened this place, (which specialises) in traditional food. "Today I am proud of my decision. Tourists from all over the country come to enjoy the traditional food here,' said Mbambo. He said he was also thankful for the support of the eThekwini Municipality and Durban Tourism as well the blessings he received from King Misuzulu kaZwelithini who visited the restaurant last year. The eatery was established in April last year and was recently invited to showcase African cuisine in New York. Speaking at the event, eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba congratulated the Mushroom Lounge and winners in various categories. The mayor said there were 161 entries for the awards and the Durban Tourism Business Awards were created to honour innovation and excellence within the tourism sector, providing a platform to showcase Durban as the best tourism and investment destination. "After an extensive adjudication process, the finalists were selected ranging from hotels and crafters to tour operators and rickshaw pullers. The City is pleased with the interest shown by tourism product owners in the awards, demonstrated by the increase in submissions in certain categories,' said Xaba.
IOL News
15 hours ago
- IOL News
Youth Month: Building a stronger CA pipeline by addressing the accounting skills gap
African women chartered accountants remain a minority. Image: File. As South Africa commemorates Youth Month, a time dedicated to honouring the role of young people in shaping the nation's future, it's a vital time to reflect on how we are preparing them for meaningful participation in the economy. One of the most impactful professional pathways is that of the Chartered Accountant (CA) - a role that underpins ethical, sustainable leadership in both business and the public sector. CA's play a pivotal role in ensuring financial integrity, driving strategic decision-making and upholding governance standards across sectors. Yet despite its significance, the CA profession remains out of reach for many talented South Africans due to persistent systemic barriers in our education and training landscape. The journey to qualification is demanding, requiring not only technical excellence but resilience, adaptability, and the right kind of support. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Structural challenges such as unequal access to quality basic education, limited career guidance, and the pressures of work and home life can disproportionately affect students. The result? Many capable young people are excluded from pursuing this career - not because they lack potential, but because they lack opportunity. To strengthen the CA pipeline, educational institutions should consider innovative ways to support aspiring accountants. Academic programmes should strike a balance between rigour and responsiveness, reflecting the real-life challenges students face. Flexibility is vital - whether through part-time study, half-workloads, online learning options, or inclusive teaching approaches that cater to diverse learning styles. Creating conditions where students can truly succeed requires programmes that integrate empathy, academic excellence, and a future-ready mindset. Comprehensive support is equally critical. Psychosocial services, academic scaffolding, and bridging programmes must be seen as essential, not optional. Students from under-resourced schools need more than just a seat in a lecture hall or course - they need targeted interventions that address learning gaps and boost self-confidence. Tools like structured weekly study plans, mentorship from recent PGDA graduates, access to engaged academic staff, dynamic online platforms, and a dedicated wellness team create a personalised support system. This ensures that students are not only academically capable, but also emotionally and mentally prepared and supported to navigate the demands of the CA journey and beyond. Today's accounting education must also evolve in line with the profession itself. It must include digital literacy, sustainability, and data analytics alongside traditional technical competencies. Career trajectories are also shifting - from audit and financial management to entrepreneurship and public sector leadership - and education must prepare students for this diverse range of roles. Encouragingly, results are beginning to reflect the value of these adaptive, student-centred approaches. Milpark Education's recent performance in the SAICA Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) is a powerful example. More than 21% of all successful IAC candidates came from Milpark - a clear sign that flexible, well-supported online learning models can work, especially for students juggling multiple responsibilities. South Africa's youth unemployment crisis demands bold, innovative solutions. Building a more inclusive and accessible CA pipeline must be part of that response. By removing barriers and investing in the full potential of our youth, we don't just close a skills gap - we unlock opportunities for economic participation, ethical leadership, and nation-building. A future-focused, inclusive accounting profession can be a powerful engine for change. Sumaya West, Subject Head of Corporate Governance and Auditing at Milpark Education. Image: Supplied.
