Big Brother South Africa, formerly known as Big Brother Mzansi, is a television series in South Africa produced by M-Net and Endemol. As of 2023, it has had a total of six seasons. Big Brother South Africa had four seasons, and a celebrity season in between. The first season aired in 2001 and the second in 2002. Four seasons were directed by Leon Coetzer and hosted by Mark Pilgrim.
In 2014, the show was rebooted and rebranded Big Brother South Africa. 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 South Africa 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 2022.
Start Date: 26 August 2001
End Date: 9 December 2001
Duration: 106 days
Nominations Table
Week 2
Week 4
Week 6
Week 8
Week 10
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15 Final
Nominations received
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
Against public 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
Evicted
Nina 76% to evict
Lara 90.58% to evict
Brad 51.34% to evict
Janine 88.45% to evict
Steven 60.87% to evict
Margaret 63.85% to evict
Leigh 80.58% to evict
Irvan 53.89% to evict
Riaad 1.22% to win
Nobesuthu 1.87% to win
Vuyo 6.86% to win
Survived
Brad 24%
Steven 9.42%
Margaret 48.66%
Irvan 8.47% Ferdi 3.08%
Margaret 30.04% Ferdi 9.10%
Leigh 36.15%
Ferdi 19.42%
Riaad 27.47% Nobesuthu 15.07% Ferdi 3.57%
Ferdi 90.04% 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.
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
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.
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.
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.[1]
The fourth season of Big Brother Mzansi. It 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.
Awards
Trivia
Total number of days on air: 382 days
Total number of housemates: 93 housemates
Total number of housemates that walked: 6 housemates