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By Bonginkosi Tiwane

Digital Journalist


Social media users believe BBMzansi’s Tshepo ‘Makhekhe’ should have his cake and eat it

Prior the show, hopeful contestants go through one-on-one screening where standard psych evaluations and interviews were conducted.


Social media users have reacted with disgust over Big Brother Mzansi’s decision to keep contestant Tshepo ‘Makhekhe’ Tau on the tv show, after the disqualification of fellow participant Lindokuhle ‘Bravo B’ Nsele.

The disqualification of Bravo B came after the circulation of a video on social media, showing the two contestants plotting to take advantage of drunken female contestants.

“Let’s f**k Liyema first; she’s drunk. No, let’s f**k them tonight… and Zee too,” Nsele is heard saying in one of the videos of the incident.

The inebriated female targets were Zinhle Mofokeng, nickname Zee, or Liyema Phantsi, nickname Liema.

There are some viewers who are threatening to report the show to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA).

ALSO READ: Big Brother Mzansi season 4 contestant disqualified amid controversy

The rule book

There have been questions about the TV show‘s vetting process with contestants on the show being in danger of sexual abused from fellow participants. But according to the DSTVs website, entries are screened “for eligibility and suitability.”

The final shortlist goes through further one-on-one screening “where our standard psych evaluations and interviews were conducted.”

“Housemates undergo a variety of assessments with professional doctors before entering the Big Brother house,” according the channel.

Among the points that would warrant a contestant’s disqualification from the show, is “Any romantic or sexual advances which are not desired or returned by the subject, for example if the subject is too heavily under the influence of alcohol to consent.”

“Bullying, aggressive behaviour or language towards other Housemate or production staff,” is another rule that could get one disqualified.

ALSO READ: BBMzansi: Fans firmly behind Zee as first elimination round looms

Channel response

On Friday evening the reality tv show’s parent channel, Mzansi Magic, put out a a statement confirming that  Multichoice had investigated the matter regarding Bravo B and Makhekhe’s conversation.

“We do not condone any acts that threaten the safety of the housemates on the show, and we take gender-based violence seriously,” the statement read.

Bravo B was booted because he initiated and drove the conversation, while Makhekhe was reprimand and the channel said it will “ensure that Makhekhe is coached to call out anyone who speaks or behaves in a derogatory manner.”

Makhekhe was handed a double strike for mocking other men for treating women with respect, and by extension, using derogatory language.

“Use of offensive language when referring to acts of intimacy translates to hate speech. If Makhekhe gets one more strike, he will be disqualified from the game,” the show added.

NOW READ: ‘Big Brother Mzansi’: Get to know Season 4 housemates

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