'I felt groped': More Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo scandal as M-Net and Red Pepper Pictures are forced to evict KayB over sexual assault

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net and production company Red Pepper Pictures have been forced to remove yet another contestant from MultiChoice's scandal-riddled Big Brother Mzansi franchise with Florence Mphirime, known as KayB, evicted over sexual assault.

The abrupt removal of the 23-year-old student from Bloemfontein who groped and touched other contestants inappropriately is the first eviction from the latest Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo season, already mired in controversy, screened on MultiChoice's DStv.

The eviction from the show with LottoStar, Unilever's Robertsons Spice and Chillers Punch as sponsors and executive produced by Natalie Bleksley, and is the latest in a string of contestants in the South African and Nigerian franchises booted from the reality show - season after season - over physical violence, verbal threats like rape, verbal attacks, as well as sexual harassment and sexual assault.

KayB's removal comes after Bokang Chephetsa, known as Beekay, said "I felt groped" by KayB and after Fortunate Setwaba, known as Nate, separately said KayB touched her very inappropriately and that KayB fails to understand consent.

According to section 16 of the production rulebook, KayB's inappropriate touching and groping are classified as sexual assault. Contestants told her repeatedly they're uncomfortable with her repeated sexual advances in the form of conversations and inappropriate touching.

It comes just two days after producers had to send in an expert in harassment and consent into the camera-filled house who did an educational session with the contestants following the fallout from last week's Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo controversy.

Last week the show was engulfed in scandal when DStv broadcast sexual assault victim-shaming when Ashley Ogle and Bongiwe Booi, known as Bonni Bee, made shocking comments about KayB after she revealed that she was herself a victim of sexual assault.

Before the latest season started, Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, said M-Net will do "devious things" to the new crop of contestants and "We're experimenting with things never done before".

"We're determined to make them as uncomfortable as possible. We’re really pushing the envelope. We'll test their intolerance to see how much they can take without breaking any legal rules. The team has come up with devious things."

On Wednesday M-Net waited for a produced made-for-TV moment to first showcase KayB's eviction on DStv before responding to media about the sexual harassment incidents that viewers have talked about since Tuesday.

Portia Hlongwane, M-Net spokesperson for Mzansi Magic, in response to a media query made on Wednesday afternoon, only on Thursday morning confirmed that KayB has been removed.

"In light of a conversation in the Big Brother Mzansi house concerning Beekay who claimed that he was physically violated by KayB, Big Brother investigated the matter further as the safety of all housemates is of utmost importance".

"After careful consideration, taking into account of the serious nature of the claim, Big Brother has decided that KayB be disqualified from the Big Brother house.:

"This decision closely follows an educational session that was held with all the housemates this past Sunday to raise awareness and instil knowledge about gender-based violence."

"We have always maintained that we do not condone any acts of gender-based violence and as such we will be taking the corrective action."

"Furthermore, due to the seriousness of this incident and the fact that the housemate in question was in the voting round for elimination this week, voting for housemates will be closed immediately to ensure fairness for all remaining housemates."

M-Net shied away from answering other questions.

M-Net was asked what it makes of the latest incident coming just days after someone specifically told the contestants what not to do, why this behaviour keeps happening and is being broadcast on DStv, and what brands like LottoStar and Unilever have told M-Net about being associated and featuring alongside unsavoury content.

M-Net declined to answer.

Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo is the fifth season under the Big Brother Mzansi moniker and the 11th season overall of Big Brother South Africa done by MultiChoice and M-Net in the country according to the Banijay format.

Big Brother Umlilo runs as a 24/7 channel on DStv with highlight programming on the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel.

ALSO READ: More brand damage for MultiChoice and M-Net, Unilever's Robertsons Spice and LottoStar as Big Brother Mzansi shows 'deeply troubling' sexual assault victim-shaming on DStv

ALSO READ: M-Net will do 'devious things' and make housemates 'as uncomfortable as possible' in 2025's Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo

The Trash Starts: More brand damage for MultiChoice and M-Net, Unilever's Robertsons Spice and LottoStar as Big Brother Mzansi shows 'deeply troubling' sexual assault victim-shaming on DStv

by Thinus Ferreira

Like clockwork, new brand damage has exploded for and engulfed MultiChoice and DStv, M-Net and Mzansi Magic as well as sponsors LottoStar and Unilever's Robertsons Spice after the latest season of Big Brother Mzansi aired nasty sexual assault victim-shaming content which has been slammed as "deeply troubling".

The latest season of Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo executive produced by Natalie Bleksley and Red Pepper Pictures, started 10 days ago and is the fifth season under the Big Brother Mzansi moniker and the  11th season overall of Big Brother South Africa done by MultiChoice and M-Net in the country according to the Banijay format.

Shocked DStv subscribers watched as MultiChoice aired comments on DStv from Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo housemates Ashley Ogle and Bongiwe Booi, known as Bonni Bee, victim-shaming Florence Mphirime, known as Kay B, after she revealed that she was a victim of sexual assault.

Ashley Ogle and Bonni Bee slammed Kay B, claiming that she was just looking for attention.

Both Ashley Ogle and Bonni Bee violated pre-set rules of the show.

The Women for Change organisation that helps and supports gender-based violence victims, in a statement, slammed the abhorrent behaviour that MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic showed to DStv subscribers, labelling it as "deeply troubling".

"The recent conversation between Ashley and Bonnie on Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo, which invalidated a survivor's experience, is deeply troubling," says Women for Change.

"When a woman bravely shares her story of sexual assault, it is vital to offer support, not judgment or mockery. Labelling Florence "Kay B" Mphirime's experience as attention-seeking and failing to stand with survivors are harmful micro-aggressions that perpetuate a culture of victim-blaming." 

"These attitudes foster a culture of silence and shame, discouraging survivors from speaking out about their experiences, and it extends far beyond the so-called "mean girl" behaviour - it highlights a systemic problem of rape culture. We must believe in survivors, amplify their voices, and stand with them in solidarity."

M-Net and MultiChoice were asked for comment on the latest utterances that amount to victim shaming in the Big Brother Mzansi season.

M-Net in response to the media query told me "The opinions and views expressed in the Big Brother Mzansi season 5 house are that of the housemates and do not represent the views of Mzansi Magic, or any of the sponsors LottoStar, Robertsons Spice and Chillers Punch".

"Big Brother's rules for the house are important and taken seriously. Last night, Big Brother addressed the housemates about their misconduct and issued the relevant warnings and punishment."

"Big Brother will continue to address any disobedient behaviour that does not adhere to Big Brother's rules."

M-Net was also asked what sponsors Unilever and LottoStar make of sponsoring a show that continues to cause controversy and does brand damage to their companies by being associated with reality trash TV content.

M-Net told TVwithThinus that "Our sponsors for Big Brother Mzansi are aware of the nature of the show, however, Mzansi Magic and the show sponsors do not endorse any views of the housemates."

Unilever in a statement on the Instagram account of Robertsons Spice - which was not automatically sent to media by either M-Net or the Playmakers PR agency responsible for media liaison this season - echoed what M-Net said in response to the media query, and clearly tried to distance itself from the sexual assault victim-shaming broadcast by MultiChoice's DStv.

"The opinions and views expressed in the Big Brother Mzansi season 5 house are that of the housemates and do not represent the views of Mzansi Magic, LottoStar, Robertsons Spice and Chillies Punch. Big Brother house rules are important and are taken seriously," Robertsons Spice displayed on a card on Instagram.

M-Net was also asked whether Red Pepper Pictures and M-Net will be doing any educational session with the participants in the latest Big Brother Mzansi season, as well as for information on what education sessions, if any, the producers and M-Net PR did with the contestants beforehand to instruct them on what not to do and say.

M-Net told TVwithThinus in response to this question that "We cannot reveal what is planned for the housemates with regards to production content that will be rolling out over the period of the show, however, we have taken a strong note of the incidents that have transpired thus far, which we acknowledge with extreme importance".

"We will follow through with actions on such incidents in the relevant manner." 

All previous seasons of Big Brother Mzansi and Big Brother Naija on DStv have been rife with shocking instances of physical and verbal assault over the past years, had seen contestants admonished and some removed while MultiChoice continues with in-show sponsorship promotion of drinking and liquor, as well as gambling. 

IN IMAGES. 30 photos of the interior design of Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo

by Thinus Ferreira

Big Brother Mzansi, bannered as Big Brother: Umlilo - started on MultiChoice's DStv on Sunday evening with Red Pepper Pictures which made another redress of the camera-house-filled studio space in Johannesburg.

Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo executive produced by Natalie Bleksley is the fifth season under the Big Brother Mzansi moniker and the  11th season overall of Big Brother South Africa done by MultiChoice and M-Net in the country according to the Banijay format.

Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo will run until 23 March with a 24-hour pop-up channel on DStv channel 198, as well as highlight programmes and a weekly roundup and eviction show on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161).

M-Net PR this past Friday gave Johannesburg media, social media influencers, as well as actors Sana Mchunu and Ishmael Songo, access to the Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo studio house for a day but didn't bother with any publicity initiative for media elsewhere in the country.

For the press conference last month for Big Brother: Umlilo at MultiChoice City in Randburg, MultiChoice and M-Net PR, together with Playmakers, likewise couldn't bother to tell media outside of Johannesburg about it, with several Johannesburg-based press who were also kept out of the basic communication loop. 

Before Sunday night's walk-in of the new crop of "housemates" on Mzansi Magic, M-Net PR had nothing for media in terms of virtual roundtable interviews with producers or M-Net execs to preview the upcoming season or field questions.

Now DStv subscribers and media scribes are sitting back and watching for the inevitable Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo controversy that will likely follow this season (as in all previous seasons) in the Lottostar and Robertson Spices sponsored show, while housemates are plied with copious amounts of liquor, gamble and wager, and become involved in squabbling and fights on TV.

Here is a look at the interior design of the Big Brother Mzansi: Umlilo studio house:

ALSO READ: M-Net will do 'devious things' and make housemates 'as uncomfortable as possible' in 2025's Big Brother Mzansi Umlilo with new host Afrika Mdutyulwa

ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. Yet another Big Brother Mzansi. Yet another big M-Net and MultiChoice media fail

Season 4 of Big Brother Mzansi in early 2024 axes shower hour, adds new game mechanics.

by Thinus Ferreira

Big Brother Mzansi will return in January 2024 to Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) with Lawrence Maleka back as the host but without any "shower hour" shown, although new game mechanics are being added into the reality competition format show.

Big Brother S'ya Mosha will be the 4th season of the rebooted version of the localised South African version and the 10th South African version overall. 

The upcoming season of the Banijay reality competition format show is once again produced by Red Pepper Productions.

Besides specific programming strands of Big Brother S'ya Mosha on Mzansi Magic, a 24-hour Big Brother pop-up channel will once again run concurrently on MultiChoice's DStv from 21 January 2024 on channel 198.

Big Brother S'ya Mosha will be available to DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and Dstv Compact subscribers. 

"Big Brother S'ya Mosha is a disruption of the norm," says Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, in a statement about the upcoming season.

"It means setting a new bar, being the most memorable season for disrupting and breaking away from what is expected. Viewers are familiar with what Big Brother is all about and they know what to expect every season, or so they think. With this season, we are messing with those perceptions and blowing their expectations out of the water."

According to Shirley Adonisi, M-Net and Red Pepper Productions are getting rid of the so-called "shower hour" following backlash from DStv subscribers who said they're not interested in seeing this type of nudity.

Natalie Bleksley, Big Brother Mzansi executive producer, says in a statement that DStv subscribers "may think you know how Big Brother operates, but the 4th season has more than just a few twists and turns that will keep viewers guessing".

"The format is also being enhanced by adding new game mechanics - nothing is predictable, and Biggie is here to shake things up, building on the elements that viewers  love like the Saturday Night Parties and Friday Night Games."  

It's not known what else was said last week at the Big Brother Mzansi media event that took place at MultiChoice City in Randburg since MultiChoice and M-Net, as well as their PR agency Duma Collective, didn't alert or communicate with all relevant media beforehand that there would be a media engagement.

MultiChoice, M-Net and Duma Collective also failed to provide any recording or transcript of what was said at the Big Brother Mzansi media event by M-Net executives like Shirley Adonisi, to journalists who were not there and who didn't know about it.

According to MultiChoice, the 4th season on DStv will see a collection of new housemates described as "a dynamic mix of fun, crazy and bold characters from diverse backgrounds" who will "do their best to outwit each other to win the hearts of the audience and ultimately the grand prize".

From a sangoma and adult content creator to its first transgender housemate: Here are South Africa's 18 new Big Brother Mzansi contestants.

by Thinus Ferreira

After a 7 year absence, 18 housemates out of 9 000 people who entered for the revived reality show, walked into the camera-house in Johannesburg on Sunday night during a 2-hour premiere for the 5th season of Big Brother Mzansi, including the show's first transgender person, a sangoma and an adult content creator.

The 18 housemates range between 21 and 31 and will compete to be the last one standing over 71 days when the winner is announced on Sunday 3 April at 18:00.

The 5th season of Big Brother Mzansi (previously also branded Big Brother SA) is produced according to the Banijay format, with Amanda van Wyngaardt as art director, Dineo Phantshang as series producer, OJ Meketsi as series director, Gbenga Kayode as consulting series director, Jessica Setati as production manager, and with Cecil Barry and Natalie Bleksley as the co-executive producers.

Lawrence Maleka is the presenter.

Sunday night's 2-hour premiere episode on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) that will run daily and weekly highlight shows, with a 24-hour Big Brother Mzansi channel running on MultiChoice's DStv channel 198, featured performances by Kamo Mphela, Chicco, Mello and Sleezy in front of a limited socially-distanced live audience.

"Congratulations to the new housemates on an experience like no other, and one that will undoubtedly change many of their lives," said says Shirley Adonisi, M-Net director of local entertainment channels.

"We're excited to have the show back on air as it's something viewers have been anticipating, and we have no doubt that they will not be disappointed."

The 18 housemates who entered Big Brother Mzansi on Sunday night are:

Adindu Asuzu aka Zino (21), Johannesburg 

A self-confessed mommy’s boy, this season's youngest housemate describes himself as both bubbly and mellow. He reckons he won't start drama – but will be the one to end it. He says his Nigerian side won't let people take advantage of him.

Gashwan Brandon Mthombeni aka Gash1 (28), Pretoria

Having overcome a troubled past, Gershwin is a deep thinker with varied interests and talents. He's deeply spiritual and enjoys giving people advice and motivation.

Gugu Refiloe Bonga aka Terry (26), Johannesburg

Honest almost to her own detriment, the adult content creator says she has a very big personality and stands for acceptance and non-judgment. She doesn’t like fake people and considers herself to be very open.

Keamogetswe Motlhale aka QV (23), Mahikeng

The easy-going Keamogetswe is a sharp-shooter and straight talker, she has no interest in keeping her annoyance to herself when someone gets on her wrong side. She describes herself as a tomboy.

Libo Njomba aka Libo (32), Johannesburg

Born in Uitenhage, Libo is an avid lover of life who enjoys the outdoors. He says people are his weakness and as a result, he tends to befriend "strange characters" – but also considers himself a loner.

Luthando Mthembu aka B.U (31), Johannesburg

The aspiring musician says one of the highlights of his life was quitting his high-flying corporate job to follow his artistic dreams. A vegan, he is focused on centering himself.

Michelle Dimpho Mvundla aka Mphowabadimo (27), Daveyton

The sangoma describes herself as outgoing and kind, but says she has "zero tolerance for nonsense". A doting mom, she is a nurturer who loves cheering people up when they're not feeling their best.

Mvelo Ntuli aka Mvelo (28), Johannesburg

Describing himself as loud and lovable, Mvelo is a lover of people who is passionate about education. Bubbly and candid, he hides a more complex side behind his infectious humour.

Naledi Mogadime aka Nale (24), Pretoria

A self-described "fine gyal, not a sad gyal", the model is as much a firecracker as she is calm and zen. Her strength is being able to understand and analyse people. Naledi says she might not be everyone's cup of tea in the beginning.

Norman Nhlapo aka Norman (24), Johannesburg

The daycare worker has an adaptable personality and is a sporty person. Despite a tough upbringing, he says his life has been a "bundle of blessings". He runs a non-profit organisation and daycare with his mother.

Rethabile Potsane aka Dinkybliss (29), Johannesburg

Fashion-loving and bubbly, Rethabile describes herself as "loud and proud" and says she can transform people’s moods and lift spirits when she is around. More of a boys' girl than a girls' girl, she enjoys socialising.

Thando Mcopela aka Acacia  (30), Soweto

Family orientated, Thando describes herself as a free spirit and a risk-taker. She's a foodie who loves community and togetherness. She considers herself relatable and is as comfortable ekasi as she is in upmarket suburbs.

Thato Mokoena aka Thato (28), Vaal

Not one to limit herself, Thato is an accountant and TikToker who describes herself as a "world within worlds". Bubbly and energetic, she's bluntly honest and is comfortable with her transparent nature.

Themba Karabo Mabaso aka Themba (30), Johannesburg

The heavily inked tattoo artist describes himself as "simple", "basic" and "normal", and says despite his attention-grabbing looks, he doesn't actively seek the spotlight.

Thobeka Mtshali aka Venus (25), Richards Bay

In her own words, when it comes to her "you just never know what you're gonna get". She embodies creativity: she writes music, makes beats and plays the piano. She considers herself to be a layered person. 

Tulani Madala aka Tulz (28), Johannesburg

A velvet-voiced straight-shooter, Tulani has a softness beneath his tough exterior. He says he's single because he was badly behaved in the heyday of his radio DJ career.

Ukho Samela aka Sis Tamara (25), Johannesburg

The multifaceted and bubbly Ukho goes by the pronouns he/ him/ she/ her/ they/ them. Known as Sis Tamara, they describe themselves as "a gender non-conforming experience". They are passionate about trans and queer representation.

Yolanda Glover aka Yoli (30), Durban

Outgoing and effervescent, Yolanda describes herself as "Berocca without the medicine". She loves being around people and says they are drawn to her infectious energy. She can sometimes be too honest and upfront and says she’s an open book.

ALSO READ: Big Brother Mzansi: Season 5's 71 days starts Sunday – with a daily Shower Hour.

ALSO READ: Lawrence Maleka the new presenter of Mzansi Magic's revived Big Brother Mzansi starting 23 January 2022.

ALSO READ: Entries open for DStv's Big Brother Mzansi that will run on M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel - this is how to enter and who the producers are looking for.

ALSO READ: MultiChoice and M-Net revive Big Brother Mzansi for South Africa for a 5th season after 7 years.