Tears, tension and a shock exit: Big Brother Mzansi S6 ‘Bazozwa’ explodes in first week
Big Brother Mzansi Season 6 ‘Bazozwa’ has only just begun, but the drama has already gone into overdrive – with a medical eviction, emotional breakdowns and a blistering shouting match that has set the tone for a turbulent season.
The new season kicked off on Sunday, 11 January, airing live on DStv Channel 198, with the live eviction shows broadcast on Sundays at 18h00 on Mzansi Magic (Channel 161) and Mzansi Wethu (Channel 163). For the next three months, fans will be glued to their screens 24/7 to watch 23 strangers battle it out under constant surveillance.
The rules are simple but brutal: only the fittest will survive in the Big Brother Mzansi house, everyone is expected to play fair, and at the end of it all, one winner will walk away with a R2 million prize.
First eviction after emotional collapse
It took less than a week for the first housemate to leave.
On Friday, 17 January, Big Brother officially evicted Marcia “Cia” Morata on medical grounds, marking the season’s first exit. The 23-year-old from Mamelodi, a professional teacher, appeared to struggle emotionally almost from the start.
After just a few days in the house, on Thursday, 15 January, Cia started showing visible signs of distress. She was seen crying during interactions with other housemates and withdrawing from the group.
Ofentse, a fellow housemate and the Head of House, tried to get her to open up, but she battled to put her feelings into words. Cia told others that she felt more like “a visitor being put to the test” than a real competitor in the game.
The next morning, after a planned yoga class, Cia reached her breaking point. She went to Big Brother to report that she was not feeling well, and the production team reacted immediately. An on-site psychologist assessed her and recommended that she leave the competition for the sake of her mental health.
The show’s producers and medical professionals then decided to remove her from the game, following the expert advice. In a formal statement, the production explained what had happened.
“On Thursday, Cia became emotional and started crying. Earlier this morning, after a scheduled yoga session, Cia indicated that she was not feeling well and approached Big Brother for assistance,” reads part of the statement.
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Family: ‘She did not voluntarily exit’
After her departure, Cia’s family released a statement of their own, making it clear that the decision was not a strategic move or a walk-out.
“It is with great concern that we announce that our beloved daughter, Cia (Marcia Mmakwena Morata), has been hospitalised. We want to set the record straight that Cia did not voluntarily exit the Big Brother Mzansi show. She bravely battled social anxiety, and unfortunately, it became too much to overcome,” the family wrote.
They revealed that she had been battling social anxiety, and that the intense, confined, and highly public environment inside the house had become overwhelming. Her exit highlights the mental and emotional pressure that comes with life under constant cameras and scrutiny, especially for contestants who may already be dealing with anxiety.
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Clash over partners sparks fiery showdown
While one storyline has centred on vulnerability and mental health, another has been about power, ego and confrontation.
In one of the most explosive moments of the first week, housemates Thandeka Tshabalala (30) and Liema Phantsi (24) were involved in a heated verbal argument that quickly drew in other contestants.
Liema is no stranger to Big Brother. She returned for her second stint in the house, having already played the game in Big Brother Mzansi Season 4 ‘S’ya Mosha’ back in 2024. This time, she showed that she is not afraid to confront conflict head-on.
The tension started after the live show, when Big Brother set up a pairing game for the housemates. Thandeka appeared visibly annoyed with the person she was matched with, and her reaction did not go unnoticed.
Her irritation came on the back of remarks allegedly made by King Wanda, who said he felt “abandoned by his ancestors” after being paired with Thandeka.
Thandeka hit back sharply. She retaliated with insults and mocked King Wanda’s unemployment, a sensitive dig that inflamed the situation.
Other housemates rushed in to try to cool things down while King Wanda stayed mostly silent, but Liema stepped directly into the fray. She confronted Thandeka and demanded that she apologise to King Wanda, using strong language.
Thandeka then challenged her, asking Liema who she thought she was to command her to apologise. Liema shot back with, “your match b*h”.**
Thandeka bullying Wanda to the point where he cried right after the eviction show 😢 💔
Liyema stood on business 👌"You've now moved on to bullying the one person who was protecying you. You nasty b*tch! " 🔥#BazozwaS6#bigbrothermzansiS6 #BBMzansi
pic.twitter.com/t9k2YbDVFM— Atheist Soul (@BeRationall) January 18, 2026
Accusations of bullying and a tearful breakdown
The confrontation escalated as Liema accused Thandeka of being a bully in the house. She listed a series of clashes that Thandeka had allegedly been involved in since entering the game.
Liema brought up:
- Previous conflicts with Didi and Ofentse
- An argument with Kokii and Dube over her using the shared oven to dry a wig
- The current fallout with both King Wanda and Liema herself
She told Thandeka, “We’re not gonna be controlled by you in this house.”
Thandeka denied being a bully, but the weight of the confrontation clearly got to her. Shortly after the argument, she broke down in tears and retreated to the bathroom, away from the rest of the group.
There, she was overheard telling fellow housemate Mmeli that she wants to leave the house, a sign of just how intense and personal the clashes have already become.
High stakes, rising pressure
With a R2 million prize on the line and three months of isolation, strategy and constant surveillance ahead, Big Brother Mzansi S6 ‘Bazozwa’ is already living up to its name.
In just one week, viewers have watched:
- A contestant medically removed after severe emotional strain
- A family speak out about social anxiety and hospitalisation
- Major rows over respect, unemployment, and “bullying”
- A returning housemate, Liema, staking her claim as someone who will not back down from confrontation
If this is how the game looks after a few days, the rest of the season promises even more intense alliances, fallouts and emotional twists as the remaining housemates fight to be the last one standing in the Big Brother house.
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