Condolences on the passing of Cass Abrahams

10 August 2026

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed the City's condolences following the passing of celebrated chef and author Cass Abrahams at the age of 83.

'Cape Town has lost a beloved cultural elder who gave generations of Capetonians a deeper appreciation of our heritage and the stories behind our food.

'Her legacy will live on in the kitchens, recipes and traditions of this city, and in everyone she inspired.

'The City extends its condolences to Cass Abrahams' family, friends, colleagues and the many people whose lives she touched through her extraordinary work in promoting dishes such as bobotie, bredies, and denningvleis to audiences far beyond the Cape,' said Mayor Hill-Lewis.

For decades, Abrahams championed Cape cuisine, becoming renowned internationally for her knowledge of Cape Malay cooking and culture. She taught cooking, catered, consulted to restaurants, appeared on television, published several books and was a lifelong member of the Chefs Association of South Africa.