Liema Pantsi was crowned the winner of "Big Brother Mzansi: Bazozwa", walking away with the R2 million grand prize after a standout season.
Image: TikTok screenshot.
Sandton came alive on Sunday night as Liema Pantsi was crowned the winner of “Big Brother Mzansi: Bazozwa”, walking away with the R2 million grand prize after a season that saw her rise above the chaos and stay locked in on her goal.
While viewers watched her strategic gameplay and her “girl’s girl” energy play out on screen, those closest to her say this moment has been a long time coming.
When Pantsi's name was called out, her aunt and biggest support, was one of the people that celebrated the win.
Speaking to “Independent Media Lifestyle” after the win, her aunt, described her as someone who has always been driven.
“Liema has always been a driven child from a very young age. She has always been determined and always knew what she wanted.”
That sense of direction, she explained, was evident from an early age.
Pantsi grew up dreaming big, even creating a vision board that filled her bedroom wall.
“She ticked off a lot of things from that vision board including taking part in 'SA Idols' and owning an iPhone”.
The 24-year-old winner auditioned for 'SA Idols' season 16 where she received a “yes” from all four judges.
Although her journey was cut short, she didn't let that deter her from pursuing her dreams and continued singing.
Beyond her ambition, her aunt highlighted Pantsi’s character, saying that her heart has always been at the centre of who she is.
“She never wanted to see anyone being bullied or harassed. She always stood up for those that she loves, even growing up she always shared her things with her cousins."
That same strength carried through during her time in the house.
Despite her drama with runner-up Thandeka Tshabalala and pressure that came with the game, Pantsi managed to stay grounded, something her aunt says reflects her personality off-screen.
She also described Pantsi as someone who believes in seeing things through.
According to her, once Pantsi starts something, she makes sure she finishes it, a trait that clearly showed when she returned to the show after leaving early in season 4 ("Sy’amosha"), and went all the way this time.
Away from reality TV, Pantsi has also been building her music career, releasing her own singles and an album, while collaborating with artists like DJ Zinhle and Cici.
“She’s not a shy person. She goes for what she wants and that’s why today she has an album of her own. Her music tells you her true life story, especially on ‘Impumelelo’, a song she did with Cici,” her aunt shared.
In the song, Pantsi reflects on her journey, singing about chasing success and holding onto hope, something that now feels even more fitting after her "Big Brother" win.
Pantsi is now the season 6 winner of one of the country’s most followed and controversial reality shows.
Her win is a full-circle moment that speaks to resilience and redemption.