Dale alumnus Sinaye Kotobe is the only Eastern Cape contestant still vying for the R2m grand prize in the current season of reality show Big Brother Mzansi.
Kotobe now carries the Eastern Cape flag after last week's astonishing exit of Qonce's Liyema Pantsi, who from the early stages of the competition garnered one of the largest fan bases.
Despite her promising future as potential winner, Pantsi took a different direction last week when she chose a R250,000 payout rather than fight for the multimillion grand prize, leaving fans heartbroken.
The ultimatum came in one of Big Brother’s twists, after housemates were nominated for possible eviction.
Big Brother offered the nominated housemates an opportunity to change their fate by letting them compete for a single red golf ball in a basket full of blue balls.
When Pantsi picked the red ball, she could have either taken R250,000 and leave the competition or continue competing for the grand prize.
Pantsi told the Dispatch on Monday she had been so nervous when she was called into the fate room that she did not completely understand the instructions.
“I did not understand the instructions; I was nervous and crying.”
She was unaware that hitting the buzzer meant choosing the cheque and exiting the show.
Pantsi was not the first housemate dealt a blow by Big Bother’s fate room plot twist.
The previous week saw East Rand’s Lerato Modise face a shocking eviction after the red ball landed her in the fate room, where she was instructed to spin a wheel that would either take her straight to the finale or have her evicted immediately.
Before Modise's bewildering axing, Pretoria’s Willy was in the fate room.
For Willy, the wheel presented options to either gain immunity from nominations or remain nominated for possible eviction and receive a punishment from Big Brother. He scored the immunity card.
Pantsi's exit disappointed many viewers who had vowed to take her to the finish line with their votes.
It was only after she left the Big Brother Mzansi house that Pantsi realised the number of supporters she had garnered.
She said she had not known she was that loved by the public.
“I don't regret [taking the money], but when I heard I had the potential to win I was hurt, but everything happens for a reason. Maybe God wanted it to be like this,” she said.
A few weeks before her departure, Pantsi received news of her grandmother Jennifer Maliti’s death and was given the option to leave the show or stay in the game and miss her grandmother’s funeral. She chose the latter, only to lose her chance a week before the finale.
She said her grandmother's death had hit her hard and affected her stay in the house.
“My grandmother raised me. Hearing she was no more really hurt me. I decided to stay because my family said I should stay.”
From love triangles to physical altercations and romantic connections, Pantsi’s stay in the competition was not without drama.
The young songstress became the talk of the town within the first week when she formed a romantic relationship with fellow housemate Jareed.
The relationship soon became a turbulent source of chaos in the house, earning Pantsi her first strike for slapping and spitting on Jareed, during a drunken quarrel.
This was after Jareed kissed two other women in the house in Pantsi’s presence.
The relationship became a huge talking point among viewers and housemates, especially when it became a love triangle after Pretoria’s Mpumi joined the lovers.
A few weeks later, she was issued another strike notice after she was involved in an altercation with fellow housemate Yolanda.
A third strike would have seen her disqualified from the show.
Despite all the drama, Pantsi described her experience as unforgettable and something she wouldn't trade for anything.
“My experience in the house was exciting and challenging. There’s a lot I did that I didn’t know I could do.
“I learnt a lot about myself, but also being with different people was challenging. I learnt about my creative gist and resilience.”
She said what viewers saw, including her falling in love with Jareed, was authentic.
“My feelings were real. That was me, but we [Pantsi and Jareed] cannot have a relationship outside the house.
“The sithembu [polygamous relationship] was challenging and it was the first time for me.”
Pantsi had a confidant and supporter in Kotobe with whom she developed a strong friendship.
She described Kotobe as someone she could turn to when she needed a shoulder to cry on.
“Sinaye was like a brother to me and we come from the same town [Qonce].”
Pantsi said she was rooting for Kotobe to win the grand prize.
Though her fans no longer have access to her 24/7 as they did on the live show, Pantsi said they would be seeing more of her.
“They should expect more music and more [social media marketing] campaigns.
“I didn't think I had a big fan base outside. I'm truly grateful for the love I received.”
Pantsi was one of four Eastern Cape contestants. East London’s Meelay was evicted on March 3 and Qonce’s Siphosethu “Sammy M” Mxunyelwa on February 5.
Kotobe is flying the Eastern Cape flag in the top six alongside Johannesburg’s Papa Ghost, Mpumi, Katlehong’s Makhekhe, KwaZulu-Natal’s Zee and McJunior.
All six remaining housemates are up for possible eviction. To save their favourite housemate(s) from elimination, viewers can vote on the DStv website or the MyDStv app.
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