Last night, Monday, 9 February, in the Big Brother Mzansi Bazozwa house one could feel the pressure, the sweat and the seriously tense vibes amongst the housemate ahead of the Head of House Challenge (HoH) and nominations.

The dust did settle though and Mmeli stood tall as the new Head of House for Week 5. His reign did not bring any comfort or safety for the housemates as all are facing possible eviction this week.

Reflecting on his win, Mmeli said that he should feel excited about it, but he did not.

Unlike his season where he was cutthroat he said this time around he has been calm. He kept encouraging all saying: “Let’s have fun, because leaving the Big Brother Mzansi Bazozwa house without memories isn’t an option!”

And in a conversation with Thandeka later after the housemates had to plead their case he said: “Thank you for checking on me as I reflect. I feel sad…it started last night when the housemates were leaving, just seeing Mshefane and Kokii leave, that impact left Dube stunned – it was sad.” Thandeka reassured him that all will be fine with them as a couple.

Head of House Challenge

The HoH games kicked off with housemates paired up with their “Cuff It” partners for a series of rounds. Round one had them catching balls while rocking oversized pants, testing their balance and coordination. Round two turned sweet (and stressful) with the Sweet Guessing Game, where housemates estimated how many sweets filled a jar.

By the time round three came around, nerves were at an all-time high as the Straw Dash demanded focus, with the top four using only their upper lips to transport straws from point A to B. Yoh!

The final showdown saw Mmeli vs Thandeka in the *Clingwrap Challenge*. Armed with a full roll of clingwrap and zero limits on strategy, the two raced to wrap a mannequin from head to toe. Mmeli’s speed and precision sealed the deal, earning him the HoH badge and bragging rights.

The Nomination Twist

Just when the Bazozwa housemates thought they’d catch their breath, boom! A surprise wheel entered the scene.  As HoH, Mmeli spun the wheel  and in a jaw-dropping moment, it landed on ALL housemates being up for possible eviction. No one was safe.

Each housemate was given two minutes  to plead their case and reflect on their journey and here is what some had to say:

– King Wanda:  appreciated the friendships he made despite struggling to fit in, noting distance between himself, Mmeli and Dube.

– Trixie: admitted that she entered the house to stay relevant, apologised to Ramona for any exclusion and confessed the house softened her heart.

– Ramona:  opened up about feeling excluded because of her age, but said the experience helped her grow in confidence.

– Bravo B: Kept it uplifting, saying he chose positivity and love throughout his stay.

– Neliswa: spoke about personal growth, patience, and friendships, giving a shout-out to Ilano, Trixie and Liema as lifelong keeps.

–Dube:  The self-proclaimed redemption kid, celebrated his personal growth and saluted his supporters.

– Didi: Likened the house to high school, saying she stayed respectful even when others weren’t, and joked that gossip only boosted her popularity outside.

– Liema: Reflected on lessons in honesty, friendship and staying true to herself.

– The Don: Said he avoided conflict, never expected to make it this far and hopes the friendships last beyond the game.

– Ilano: Asked housemates to help perform her song “I’m a Survivor”,   sharing her journey as the first trans woman in the house and proudly representing her community.

– Thandeka: She took time and reflected on learning to thrive by depending on others.

– Que: Called his entry a leap of faith, saying he usually avoids drama but had to face it head-on.

– Tumi the Barber: Said housemates like Ashay reminded him he’s not disliked by everyone and stressed the value of healthy competition.

– Ashay: He had the housemates repeat his mantra, “If you have, you have.” and gave a loving shoutout to his partner Tamica.

Cuff It Season – Sugar & Spice/Love Actually

It’s the week of love (Valentine’s Day) and this week’s theme is not just about romance…it’s about flirting, playful tension, teasing and chemistry. Think sizzle, spicy games, sexy truth or dare, secret crush confessions, pleasure vouchers, chocolate surprises, naughty edibles and the deeper spark between the relationships that have been simmering in the house thus far.

Week 5 is officially delivering love feels and game-changing twists, and with everyone on the line, Mzansi is in for a very competitive week and a surely fiery eviction night come Sunday!

Notable tensions

Thandeka and Liema are quietly still in their zones, with Liema whispering to Ilano and Trixie that Thandeka is still upset about a wig prank and has been acting a type of way. Trixie criticised Thandeka for refusing to take accountability, especially for comments she made about Ilano.

Thandeka told Ramona she has no intention of talking to Liema. She later had a reflective discussion with Mmeli about stereotypes, with Mmeli expressing his desire to challenge the negative perception of men from Hillbrow. Thandeka said she doesn’t feel the need to explain herself to anyone and keeps her personal life private, even in the house.

Vote to save your favourite housemate on the Mzansi Magic web and mobi site by selecting housemates of your choice and entering your number of votes. Voting via these platforms is limited to 100 votes per user. You can also download the MyDStv app from the App Store for Apple devices or Play Store for Android devices for additional votes. Votes are allocated based on your subscription packages. The voting window closes at 21:00 on Thursday (CAT).

Do not forget to catch Beyond Umsindo this Thursday at 19:00withSmash Afrika, as he sits down with Mashel and Dene Jones who were evicted this past Sunday.

Big Brother Mzansi Season 6 is proudly sponsored by headline partner LottoStar, associate sponsors Chillers Punch & King Pie and tactical sponsors Robertsons Spices, Zakhaa Pay,  Schweppes, PepsiCo, Bayer SA, Falco Milano Eyewear, Galxboy and Unilever Homecare.

Big Brother Mzansi season 6 is broadcast live 24/7 on DStv channel 198. Stream here. Sunday eviction shows are at 18:00 on Mzansi Magic and Mzansi Wethu. Join the conversation on social media using #BBMzansiS6 and #Bazozwa on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Media Notes:

For media interview requests, contact the Big Brother Mzansi publicity team:

Portia Hlongwane:  portia.hlongwane@mnet.co.za

Temogo Zondi: temogoz@playmakers.co.za

Basetsana Moropa: basetsanam@playmakers.co.za

Sebina Letseleha: sebinal@playmakers.co.za