He was pretty sure he had the game in the palm of his hand.
When the last three Big Brother housemates were standing waiting for who will be evicted next, and his name was called, his heart sank and a big gulp of saliva hit his throat. He was devastated.
Themba “Dracula” Mabaso (30) says he expected to win or at least be in the top two.
The votes showed he had 26,13% votes, while Gershwin ‘Gash1’ Mthombeni had 29,17% and Mphowabadimo won by 36,45%.
"I thought I knew the game and had played it well because I was on everybody’s mind, messing up their minds. They didn’t see me coming,” he tells Drum.
“I had the house eating out of the palm of my hand, practically. When I had mood swings, that would affect the house. If I was quiet, or happy, everyone would see, and I used to control the house. I noticed that everything I did affected everyone’s mood from when I arrived, and I used this to maneuver my way into the house. I somehow controlled how people felt and their thoughts in a way.”
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Themba believes he played the game well, he didn’t see anyone either than him or Mphowabadimo winning.
"I was sure I would win, but it is what it is, we move. I am disappointed but I am also happy that someone like Mpho won. I am very happy for her,” he says.
While some on social media say he looked sour after Mphowabadimo won the competition, he says he is happy for her.
“People can't expect me not to be disappointed. It’s unrealistic. I had big plans for the R2 million but I’m happy Mpho won. At one point in the game, Big Brother asked me who I think should take the money if not me, and I confidently said Mphowabadimo. I am very happy for her. We are still very good friends.”
Going into the Big Brother house, Themba wanted to be himself and not pretend to be anyone else.
“I am like this in real life, a straight talker and like people with a great sense of humour. I’m quiet, I plan and talk when need to. I like to keep a small group of people around me but because there were a lot of people in the house, I had to be a little bit more open,” he says.
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The tattoo shop owner and musician from Alexandra township had big plans for the prize, which he will still follow through.
“My plan was to get a bigger tattoo shop and expand the business. I wanted to build a house for my mother and then invest in my music. The plan was to release a few songs after winning. There was a lot I planned around the money but now that I don’t have it, I will still carry on doing the same but slowly and taking my time with the money I have.”
Themba will not let the opportunity go to waste and he appreciates the support and publicity he received for his business and his career.
“What was meant to happen did, I can’t be mad at that. I have big plans and not winning does not mean I am not capable of making the R2 million in other ways,” he says.
He also appreciates having made real friendships in the house.
“I was never a people's person prior to the game. I was a lone ranger, moody, just playing the game on my own. I did not have one particular person that I got close to but Dinky cracked me up. I loved her sense of humour and I spent a lot of tie with her. Acacia was funny. Mpho also made me laugh. I love funny people because I know I am not too talkative. In the end, I became close with Libo and Tulz. I didn’t really have a least favourite but I had people who made me laugh and forget the pressures of the house.”
His toughest moment on the Big Brother house was waking up early in the morning for the workouts.
“I am not a morning person. I am too grumpy, and I love doing things at my preferred time. But I had to be part of the team.”
Themba has not yet been on social media to see people's reactions but he is happy about the support that landed him in the top three.
“The fact that I made it this far means there was support from people and I will forever be grateful to the pole who believed in mean kept me in the house. I can't thank them enough."
