On Sunday night, millions of South Africans were glued to their televisions for the finale of Big Brother Mzansi: Bozazwa. After 10 weeks of tough competition and unforgettable drama, Liema Phantsi was declared the winner, taking home a cool R2 million, not to mention incalculable future career opportunities.
The final show of the competition’s sixth season once again captured Mzansi’s attention, with millions of fans voting and widespread debate on social media about the winner. Some people reckoned Phantsi had an unfair advantage, since it’s the second time she’s appeared on the show. Perhaps they have a point – or maybe they’re just sore losers…
For those of you who haven’t been following the show (where have you been?), we’re here to get you up to speed. Big Brother Mzansi is South Africa’s ultimate reality TV playground. Imagine 23 regular people thrown into a fancy house with no phones, no wi-fi, and cameras following their every move 24/7. Everything they do is watched. And the best part? The audience decides who stays and who gets eliminated.
Every week, housemates nominate who should leave. Then the viewers vote on who must pack their bags and go home. The last person standing walks away with a prize big enough to change their life.
Season six highlights
- New season, old contestants: This edition was the first time former contestants returned to the house, eager for a second chance to win big. The housemates to re-enter the game were eventual winner Liema Phantsi, Bravo B, Mmeli Khumalo, and Mpendulo Dube. Overall, it was clear that the returning housemates were determined to rewrite their stories and show how much they’ve grown.
- Novel twists: The tough ice-water endurance challenge, during which contestants had to test physical and mental strength by staying in ice water for as long as possible, came with a valuable reward. The winners, Thandeka Tshabalala and Lindy Cristoffels (Trixie), each received a golden ticket, giving them automatic entry to the final.
- Transgender contestant: The show also featured a transgender contestant for the first time: content creator Langalihle Gumede, known as Liano. Her presence was largely received positively by the public and her fellow housemates. However, in the house, both Tshabalala and Romano Maloy made transphobic comments. The social-media backlash led to a petition calling for the pair’s eviction. The petition didn’t achieve its aim, but it did receive almost 29,000 signatures.
- New spin-offs: Two more television programmes, Beyond Umsindo and Spills with Biggie, featured unfiltered chats with evicted housemates and extra coverage of drama and twists.
- Physical violence: One of the most dramatic confrontations this season involved Velile Nonjogo (Que), Neliswa Ngada, and Didintle Mothobi (Didi). During a heated argument, Nonjogo verbally attacked Mothobi, sparking immediate backlash from other housemates. As tensions escalated, Ngada stepped in to defend Mothobi and ended up punching Nojogo. She had to be restrained when she tried to go after him again – this time holding a wig stand. Talk about a hairy situation. In the end, Ngada was booted out of the house: violence is not tolerated on Big Brother.
- Questionable hygiene: Tshbalala made headlines for her controversial hygiene practices inside the house, such as washing her face at the kitchen sink and drying her wig near the oven, which drew comments from viewers and the show’s host. Nonetheless, she was one of the standout contestants of the season and emerged as the runner-up.
- More fighting: The most notable fighting this season was between Tshabalala and Phantsi, the final two, who didn’t get along for much of the show. But when it came down to it, they tried to be cordial on their last day in the house together.
- Romance(s): This season of Big Brother could’ve been a dating show, with several couples getting together inside the house: Sihle Shishi (Don) and Ngada, Tumi Mohwaduba and Buhle Makhanya (Buhle B) (who have since broken up), Lindokuhle Nsele (Bravo) and Christoffels, and Mmeli Khumalo and Tshabalala. Now that the show’s over, these relationships will face their true test: lasting outside in the real world.
The contestant to influencer pathway
Past winners of Big Brother Mzansi include Mandla Hlatshwayo, Ace Khumalo and Ntombi Tshabalala, Mphowabadimo Vundla, McJunior Zondi, Sweet Guluva, and now Pantsi. But for many housemates, the show is just the beginning of their journey. TV commentator Bafana Mthembu told /explain/ that Pantsi is well-positioned to use her Big Brother fame to secure brand deals and public opportunities.
“Liema is fortunate to have had prior experience in the house, which gives her an advantage in knowing how to maximise her opportunities after the show,” Mthembu said. “Big Brother is a powerful career launcher and this season will be no different.”
Take season five winner Sweet Guluva, who’s winning awards, acting on Black Gold, making music, and working with brands like Mzansi Magic. His runner-up, Uyanda Hlangabezo, is also thriving as an amapiano DJ and brand ambassador, landing big deals soon after the show.
Even beyond Mzansi, Big Brother Titans (a special season featuring contestants from both South Africa and Nigeria) winner Khosi Twala has set the bar high by securing brand partnerships, travelling the world, and launching her own activewear brand.
Meanwhile, Sol Phenduka, a former season one contestant, is now co-hosting one of South Africa’s biggest podcasts, Podcast and Chill with MacG, showing how far the programme can take you.
“Having a strong following, being brand-friendly, likeable, and talented are all key factors in securing brand deals and building a long-term career,” Mthembu said. “Fans play a huge role in this and Big Brother Mzansi fans are known for their loyalty and strong support.”
From the house to your living room
The show continues to resonate with fans and viewers every year and has firmly established itself as a social-media powerhouse. According to the Mzansi Magic website, season six generated more than 5.5 million YouTube views, and its overall social media analytics surpassed previous seasons.
Mthembu told /explain/ the show continues to perform well because of its mix of diverse personalities with relatable backgrounds. “At its core, Big Brother Mzansi is a competition of personalities. Watching more than 20 different individuals live together as strangers for 72 days is bound to produce drama, romance, conflict, fun, and everything in-between,” Mthembu said.
