Nsuku Mabunda, the last woman standing in the fiercely competitive Big Brother Season 5, was evicted during a nail-biting finale on Sunday, 23 March. The 29-year-old from Nkuzana village near Ha-Masia in Limpopo fell just short of claiming the coveted title and the R2 million grand prize.
Throughout the season, she captivated millions of viewers with her fierce performance and earned immense fan support, making her eviction all the more shocking. The prize ultimately went to Sweet Guluva Mbele from Cape Town, Western Cape.
The final week of the show saw intense competition as the housemates battled it out for the grand prize. In a bid to continue supporting her, Nsuku's fans opened a GoFundMe campaign to help her transition back to life outside the house.
Makhadzi, one of Vhembe's best-known performers and one of Nsuku's biggest supporters, also encouraged fans to donate. "She really needs anything we have for her therapy. Staying in that house without family, friends, and a phone is not child's play," Makhadzi wrote on her Facebook page. By Tuesday afternoon, more than R60,000 had been raised by thousands of her fanbase.
When asked how she felt about her journey, Nsuku said, "I feel so excited! Oh my God. I was just being myself, you know, and at some point, I just needed some liquor cuddling, you know, some head, and Muziomhle 'Muzi-TheMbuzi' Mdluli was there to offer that. So, that was the highlight."
Despite her popularity, her eviction came as a surprise to many as viewers had hoped to see her emerge victorious. She was evicted after a tense vote, with the public and housemates deciding that her journey had come to an end.
Nsuku was described as a "fearless lady," and she wished her fellow contestants all the best, saying, "May your fire keep burning bright, and I know you're going to kill it out there. Good luck."
"I never had beef with anyone, I just understood that there were clashes of personalities - not that I personally hated anyone or was beefing with them," she said.