B.U.
Full name: Luthando Mthembu
Age: 31
Hometown: Johannesburg via Durban
Occupation: Aspiring musician, former research analyst
Luthando Mthembu is a 31-year-old from both Johannesburg and Durban. A former research analyst, he is currently pursuing his dream of becoming a musician. He places lot of value on honesty, is full of love and passion and is a vegan. He is disciplined, strong-willed, creative and is one of the few people who enjoys getting lost when he travels.
He decided to enter Big Brother Mzansi after his friend suggested it. The Big Brother Mzansi House will be great for him because he loves meeting new people, just as long as they clean up after themselves. He doesn’t believe that adding a layer of deception to his character will help him win, so he will stick to just being himself and allow that to take him as far as it can.
He’s feeling calm about entering the House and that he can definitely do this.
Gash1
Full name: Gershwin Mthombeni
Age: 28
Hometown: Pretoria
Occupation: Fashion designer, entrepreneur
Gershwin describes himself as a “typical guy”, with varied interests and talents. “I’m very artistic,” he says. “I’m creative – I have the ability to think outside the box.” Deeply spiritual, he enjoys giving people advice and motivation. “I’m going to be myself, and I’m going to try and win the audience over by motivating them to follow their dreams.”
His motivation for entering Big Brother Mzansi is the money, pure and simple, with plans to use the money to fund a few entrepreneurial projects. “It’s a platform for growing myself.” He says that his fellow Housemates should expect “a lot of noise. I’m a talkative person. I’m going to be flirting with the ladies”.
Outside of the House, Gershwin is a fashion designer and entrepreneur, and he says that he has never been to a club or consumed alcohol, and that he doesn’t have the discipline to exercise as much as he would like.
Libo
Full name: Libo Njomba
Age: 32
Hometown: Johannesburg via King William’s Town
Occupation: Salesperson, personal trainer, IT graduate
Libo considers himself to be a “very fun” person with friends who would describe him as a bit of a goofball. As someone who enjoys the outdoors, he says he loves to be active and plays a lot of tennis. He also makes a point of saying that he likes big dogs.
On the subject of entering Big Brother Mzansi, Libo says he did it to step out of his comfort zone. “I live under a big rock. I’ve played it safe most of my life. It’s time for me to chase my dreams.” He says his fellow Housemates can expect a lot of fun and a lot of jokes. “I’m a storyteller – I have so many stories!”
Now that it’s been confirmed that he will, in fact, be entering the Big Brother House, he says that he’s not nervous, “I’ve sacrificed too much to be nervous. I think if I can show people who I am, I’ve got this in the bag.”
Mvelo
Full name: Mvelo Ntuli
Age: 28
Hometown: Johannesburg via Pietermaritzburg
Occupation: Marketing graduate
Mvelo is a 28-year-old from Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg. He is a marketing graduate with a vibrant personality and has worked in media, marketing, and communications. He describes himself as loud, lovable, and a lover of people. He is passionate about education and one of his dreams is to help others access higher institution learning.
The bubbly and candid Housemate hides a deeper, more complex side behind his infectious humour. A lot of people told him to enter and he did it to get them off his back, but it was only when things started progressing that he realised that this is a great opportunity for him to make a difference.
He loves drinking and socialising and is also a bit of a daredevil who loves to try new things. He does not get angry quickly and he’s a crier. He believes he can win by being himself and that trying to sell a certain image eventually catches up with you. He’s been excited for a very long time but all he feels now is anxiety. He can’t believe it’s finally happening!
Norman
Full name: Norman Nhlapo
Age: 24
Hometown: Johannesburg via Pretoria
Occupation: Daycare worker
This athletic 24-year-old describes himself as a family man and is especially close to his mother and siblings. Norman says he is a calm and warm person with an adaptable personality because he’s moved around a lot.
He prides himself with being a people’s person and a good listener. He loves easily and confesses he’s a hopeless romantic. He enjoys listening to people and being there for others. He dislikes bullies, so he will always stand up for people who are being picked on.
Nkuli runs a non-profit organisation and daycare with his mother. He hopes to show people the things they love but don’t speak about. His strategy is to show compassion, love and authenticity. He says he is very good at manipulating and reading people: “I am a puppeteer.”
Themba
Name: Themba Mabaso
Age: 30
Hometown: Johannesburg
Occupation: Tattoo artist
A looker with a personality that makes him a magnet for curiosity, Themba will be relying on more than just his dashing appearance to woo the hearts of Big Brother Mzansi S3 viewers. While the 30-year-old tattoo artist is used to being the centre of attention – often capturing the vibe of every room he enters, it’s his ability to sit back and observe the atmosphere that allows him to navigate social circles with a smooth flow.
The fact that he’s a creative at heart, expressing himself through drawing, tattooing and singing, will likely only add to his appeal. His approach to winning Big Brother Mzansi is authenticity. He will be keeping it real at all times, allowing his very natural energy to shine.
Tulz
Name: Tulani Madala
Age: 28
Hometown: Johannesburg and East London
Occupation: Voiceover artist, actor, broadcaster
A smooth-talking straight shooter, Tulani possesses the rare gift of being able to be bluntly honest in a mellow tone. Notwithstanding this tough display, the 28-year-old voice over artist, actor and broadcaster beams with compassion. He has started a non-profit organisation for aspirant young artists in his hometown, East London. It’s a turnaround from his heyday radio days. His “bad behaviour” there has kept him single to this day.
Tulani loves partying it up, cooking and spending time with his family. Citing his humour as his best trait, he plans to remain calm and zen as a strategy to win Big Brother Mzansi.
Sis Tamara
Full name: Ukho Samela aka Sis Tamara
Age: 25
Hometown: Johannesburg via Queenstown
Occupation: Film student
Multifaceted and with various interests, Ukho has studied psychology and is a final year film and television student. Going by the pronouns he / him / she / her / they / them, Ukho is known as Sis Tamara and describes themselves as “a gender non-conforming experience”. A bubbly person who gels easily with people, they are passionate about trans and queer representation.
Ukho is passionate about representation, seeing their appearance on the show as an opportunity to elevate conversations and awareness of the richness of identity. They are an energetic overachiever who doesn’t have a strategy to win Big Brother Mzansi, except to know people might just love them.
Zino
Full name: Adindu Asuzu aka Zino
Age: 21
Hometown: Johannesburg
Occupation: Digital marketing student
The youngest Housemate of the season, Adindu is a self-confessed “mummy’s boy”, and it was following her advice that got him to enter the competition in the first place. Describing himself as “highly sociable and curious”, he says he isn’t the one who starts drama, but ends it, and he won’t let people take advantage of him.
Regarding what his fellow Housemates can expect from him, he says that he is someone with whom they can have an easy conversation, because he is not stuck up. “My mum says I have a soft heart,” he says, going on to describe himself as “kind, loving and energetic”.
On the subject of being in Big Brother Mzansi, Adindu says he is more excited than anything, and that he plans to be himself during his stay in the House, because “people like someone that’s genuine.”
Outside of the House, his favourite activities include playing football, video games and working out in the gym.
Tags
Big Brother Mzansi