Most people celebrate winning R10 000 with champagne, a dinner out with friends, or maybe a few selfies.

Tshepe Parkies celebrated by fighting for his life in a bathroom. The young content creator and streamer recently won the popular RocoMamas spicy wings challenge in Pineslopes after taking on one of the hottest meals imaginable.

“I didn’t prepare at all. I just went for it.”

Read more: Afrika Tikkun’s Wings of Life Centre empowers Diepsloot youth from cradle to career

What makes his victory even more surprising is that this was his first-ever extreme spicy food challenge. “I like hot food, but not crazy hot.”

Yet somehow, while everyone around him was sweating, panicking, and questioning their life choices, Parkies said he felt strangely calm during the competition itself.

“It didn’t feel as hot as I thought it would. The atmosphere just kept me going. I did not even feel that the food was really hot.”

Unfortunately, the confidence lasted only until the challenge ended. “That’s when the problem started. I didn’t understand what was going on in my body.”

While supporters congratulated him on the win, Tshepe was privately experiencing what can only be described as a spiritual journey through pain. “I don’t know what was happening. It felt like my stomach was turning inside out.”

Although he escaped the dreaded runny-tummy situation, he said recovery still took a while, and included vomiting and several painful minutes questioning every decision that led him there.

Also read: Diepsloot fun walk aims to unite community and stakeholders

He said the experience became so intense that when he phoned his younger brother in Cape Town afterwards, the conversation focused less on the R10 000 prize and more on his condition.

“He was more concerned about what was happening in the toilet because that is where it is going to end.”

Behind the humour, though, Tshepe says the win means a lot to him. As a streamer and content creator, he plans to invest the prize money back into his growing platform and future projects.

“There’s a lot I’m planning for my streaming journey. The money is definitely going to help. It came at the right time and I am grateful for that.”

Also read: Lonehill streets get winter makeover as City Parks prunes trees

He explained that livestreaming and online content creation are still relatively new spaces in South Africa, with many people not fully understanding the industry yet.

“We’re trying to see how far we can take streaming in South Africa. A lot of people still think it’s mainly an American or European thing.” He also pointed out that high data costs continue to make livestreaming difficult for many South Africans to access regularly.

Despite surviving the challenge and walking away victorious, Parkies says there is one thing he will not be doing anytime soon.

“If they bring it back, I’ll be the host. I’ll support everyone else. I, on the other hand, would not do it again.”

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!