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Love is secret ingredient

XOLISWA Ndoyiya might not be a household name, but it has been one in the Mandela household for two decades.

Ndoyiya, Nelson Mandela's personal chef for the past 20 years, has released a recipe book showcasing the former president's favourite meals.

Ukutya Kwasekhaya: Tastes from Nelson Mandela's Kitchen is the product of years of cooking for the Mandela family.

Luvuyo Mandela, Madiba's grandson, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the family for Ndoyiya's "many sacrifices" since she spent so much time away from her own children while cooking for the family.

He described Ndoyiya as "the family's best kept secret", adding that they thought of her as more than someone who cooks the meals, but as a parent.

Mandela's granddaughter, Ndikela Mandela, presented Mama Xoli, as she is affectionately known, with a framed letter from Mandela saying: "Thank you for feeding us all these years".

The cookbook contains more than 60 recipes of Madiba's favourite dishes.

Ndoyiya, who still cooks for the family, struggled to express how much the family means to her and what it means to have shared so many years with them.

"People say I have a secret to the way I cook, but my secret is love. I cook food with love," she said, which earned her a round of applause.

She added that she had always wanted to write a book, but never thought that it would happen.

"Because of the faith of the family, this book was published," she said.

Noli Mboweni, Ndoyiya's neighbour, bought five books in support of her good friend.

"I want to promote these books overseas because I travel a lot and it is a nice memento for people overseas who love Tata," she said.

"My children go to her house all the time. They never want to eat my food after they've been there.

"They don't even care about Mandela when they are there, they just want the food," she said.

The book costs R300.

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