Big Brother Mzansi

Big Brother Mzansi, formerly known as Big Brother South Africa, is a television series in South Africa produced by M-Net and Banijay Entertainment. As of 2026, both shows have a total of eight seasons. Big Brother South Africa had two seasons, and a celebrity season in between. The first season aired in 2001 and the second in 2002. The seasons were directed by Leon Coetzer and hosted by Mark Pilgrim.

In 2014, the show was rebooted and rebranded Big Brother Mzansi. This return show brought with it a new host, Lungile Radu, and a new production network, M-Net's Mzansi Magic. The second season was broadcast in 2015.

Following a six-year hiatus, a third season of Big Brother Mzansi was announced, which premiered on 23 January 2022 with a new host, Lawrence Maleka.

In October 2022, a special edition in the Big Brother Africa franchise combining Big Brother Mzansi and Big Brother Naija called Big Brother Titans, where South Africa will face off against Nigeria, was announced, premiering on 15 January 2023.

In 2025, Smash Afrika replaced Lawrence Maleka for the fifth season of Big Brother Mzansi.

Series overview SeasonSubtitle Launch date Finale date Days Housemates Winner Runner-up Main presenters Network Big Brother South Africa season 1None 26 August 2001 09 December 2001 106 12 Ferdinand Rabie VuyoMark Pilgrim Gerry RantseliDStvM-Net Celebrity Big Brother 23 June 2002 30 June 2002 7 10 Bill Flynn Jo-Ann Strauss Big Brother South Africa season 2 28 July 2002 13 October 2002 79 13 Richard Cawood Jacqui Big Brother Mzansi 1 Secrets 02 February 2014 06 April 2014 63 18 Mandla Hlatshwayo Iris Lungile Radu Mzansi MagicDStv Big Brother Mzansi 2 Double Trouble 22 March 2015 18 May 2015 5620 Ace Khumalo & Ntombi Tshabalala K2 Mabusela & Blue Mbombo Big Brother Mzansi 3 Beke Le Beke 23 January 2022 03 April 202270 Michelle Dimpho "Mphowabadimo" Mvundla Gashwen Brandon "Gash1" MthombeniLawrence Maleka Big Brother Mzansi 4 S'ya Mosha 21 January 2024 31 March 2024 23 Siphephelo "McJunior" Zondi Tshepo "Makhekhe" Tau Big Brother Mzansi 5 Umlilo 12 January 2025 23 March 2025 24 Akhonamathemba "Sweet Guluva" Zwane Uyanda HlangabezoSmash Afrika Mzansi MagicMzansi WethuDStv Big Brother Mzansi 6 Bazozwa 11 January 2026 22 March 2026 23 Liema Pantsi Thandeka Tshabalala

Big Brother South Africa Season 1 Start Date: 26 August 2001 End Date: 9 December 2001 Duration: 106 days

Nominations Table Week 2Week 4Week 6Week 8Week 10Week 12Week 13Week 14Week 15FinalNominationsreceived Ferdi Steven,Riaad Steven,Lara Steven,Margaret Vuyo,Janine Steven,Margaret Leigh,Margaret Riaad,Vuyo Riaad,Vuyo Winner(Day 106) 24 Vuyo Margaret,Steven Brad,Ferdi Riaad,Margaret Ferdi,Leigh Nobesuthu,Margaret Leigh,Margaret Ferdi,Leigh Riaad,Irvan Runner-up(Day 106) 6 Nobesuthu Lara,Steven Lara,Steven Brad,Irvan Leigh,Ferdi Ferdi,Leigh Leigh,Riaad Ferdi,Vuyo Irvan,Riaad Third place(Day 106) 10 Riaad Brad,Nina Brad,Ferdi Brad,Ferdi Ferdi,Janine Margaret,Steven Ferdi,Margaret Ferdi,Vuyo Ferdi,Nobesuthu Fourth place(Day 106) 9 Irvan Nina,Riaad Lara,Steven Margaret,Leigh Steven,Margaret Steven,Margaret Leigh,Margaret Ferdi,Leigh Nobesuthu,Ferdi Evicted(Day 99) 7 Leigh Nina,Margaret Margaret,Nobesuthu Margaret,Nobesuthu Janine,Nobesuthu Margaret,Steven Margaret,Nobesuthu Nobesuthu,Ferdi Evicted(Day 92) 13 Margaret Brad,Nobesuthu Nobesuthu,Steven Ferdi,Brad Ferdi,Irvan Ferdi,Leigh Leigh,Ferdi Evicted(Day 85) 20 Steven Brad,Nina Brad,Ferdi Ferdi,Brad Ferdi,Irvan Ferdi,Irvan Evicted(Day 71) 15 Janine Brad,Nina Lara,Leigh Brad,Vuyo Ferdi,Irvan Evicted(Day 57) 3 Brad Nina,Lara Lara,Steven Steven,Margaret Evicted(Day 43) 15 Lara Brad,Nina Brad,Margaret Evicted(Day 29) 7 Nina Brad,Riaad Evicted(Day 15) 7 Againstpublic vote Brad,Nina Lara,Steven Brad,Margaret Ferdi,Irvan,Janine Ferdi,Margaret,Steven Leigh,Margaret Ferdi,Leigh Ferdi,Irvan,Nobesuthu,Riaad Ferdi,Nobesuthu,Riaad,Vuyo EvictedNina76%to evictLara90.58%to evictBrad51.34%to evictJanine88.45%to evictSteven60.87%to evictMargaret63.85%to evictLeigh80.58%to evictIrvan53.89%to evictRiaad1.22%to winNobesuthu1.87%to winVuyo6.86%to win SurvivedBrad24%Steven9.42%Margaret48.66%Irvan8.47%Ferdi3.08%Margaret30.04%Ferdi9.10%Leigh36.15%Ferdi19.42%Riaad27.47%Nobesuthu15.07%Ferdi3.57%Ferdi90.04%to win

Lynne McCarthy, pulled out of first season days before recording to pursue international modeling contract. McCarthy returned to South Africa a few years later to star in local soaps EGOLI and Isidingo.

Celebrity season

Start Date: 23 June 2002 End Date: 30 June 2002 Duration: 8 days

The Finalists: 4 - Bill (The Winner), Jo-Ann (Runner-up), Bad Boy (3rd) & Danny (4th) Evicted Housemates: 5 - Gloria, Helen, Kabelo, Neil & TK Voluntary Exits: 2 - Sam & Emmanuel

Season 2 Start Date: 28 July 2002 End Date: 13 October 2002 Duration: 79 days

Nominations table Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Final RichardDominiqueThando MandyThando GroschaanThando CarolJacqui AndreRabin Lee Ann nkosiAndre Winner(Day 79) JacquiNot inHouse PulediRichard PulediRichard RichardZlatko MandyRabin RabinRichard MandyRabin MandyRichard Richard Runner up(Day 79) PulediNot inHouse GroschaanZlatko GroschaanZlatko CarolZlatko Ilse-MarieZlatko Ilse-MarieRichard JacquiRabin JacquiMandy Andre Third place(Day 79) AndreCarolThando CarolGroschaan CarolGroschaan PulediRichard MandyRabin MandyRichard Richard Evicted(Day 72) MandyDominiqueGroschaan GroschaanRichard GroschaanJacqui JacquiRichard JacquiRichard AndreRabin AndreJacqui AndreRichard Evicted(Day 64) RabinCarolDominique CarolRichard CarolRichard CarolRichard MandyZlatko MandyRichard MandyRichard Evicted(Day 56) Ilse-Marie CarolDominique CarolThando PulediZlatko RichardZlatko RichardZlatko PulediRichard Evicted(Day 48) ZlatkoDominiqueThando MandyThando GroschaanJacqui Ilse-MarieJacqui Ilse-MarieMandy Evicted(Day 40) CarolGroschaanIlse-Marie GroschaanIlse-Marie GroschaanJacqui Ilse-MarieRichard Evicted(Day 32) GroschaanDominiqueMandy MandyThando PulediRichard Evicted(Day 24) ThandoGroschaanIlse-Marie GroschaanRichard Evicted(Day 16) DominiqueGroschaanZlatko Evicted(Day 8) MichelleNot inHouse Walked(Day 8) Up forevictionCarolDominiqueGroschaanThando GroschaanRichardThando GroschaanJacquiPulediRichard CarolIlse-MarieJacquiRichardZlatko Ilse-MarieMandyZlatko Ilse-MarieRichard MandyRabin MandyRichard AndreRichard All housemates WalkedMichelle none Evicted Dominique Thando Groschaan Carol Zlatko Ilse-Marie Rabin Mandy Andre Puledi3.13%to win Jacqui22%to win Richard75%to win

Big Brother Mzansi Season 1

On 12 June 2013, MultiChoice announced that its local brand, M-Net and Mzansi Magic, would produce another South African edition of Big Brother, with the show being rebranded as Big Brother Mzansi, which was set to air in January 2014. It marked the South African editions return, 12 years after the previous season ended. It began on 2 February 2014. Lungile Radu was the host. After 63 days Mandla emerged as the winner of this season.

Season 2

Due to success of the previous season, Big Brother Mzansi came back in 2015. The theme for this season was "Double Trouble". Housemates entered the house in pairs and were compete against each other for R2 Million. The show lasted for 56 days. Lungile Radu returned as this season's host. After 56 days Ntombi and Ace emerged as the winners of the show.

Season 3

After a six-year hiatus, the third season of Big Brother Mzansi premiered on 23 January 2022 with a new theme "Beke Le Beke". Lawrence Maleka was the host for this season. After 71 days on 3 April 2022, Mphowabadimo was declared the winner and received R2 million, while Gash1 was the runner-up.

Season 4

The fourth season of Big Brother Mzansi premiered on 21 January 2024 with Lawrence Maleka returning as the host. The theme for this season is "S'ya Mosha". McJunior was declared a winner while Makhekhe was a runner up.

Season 5

The fifth season of Big Brother Mzansi premiered on 12 January 2025 with Smash Afrika as the new host.The theme for this season is "Umlilo". Sweet Guluva was declared a winner while Uyanda was a runner up.

Season 6

The sixth season of Big Brother Mzansi premiered on 11 January 2026 with Smash Afrika returning as the host.The theme for this season is "Bazozwa". Liema was the winner, while Thandeka was the runner-up.

Awards

Trivia Total number of days on air: 382 days Total number of housemates: 93 housemates Total number of housemates that walked: 7 housemates Total number of ejections: 4 housemates

Notes

See also Big Brother franchise

References

External links Football Pools Fixtures