Vyno’s reaction on finding out about close friend Riky Rick’s passing after eviction on #BBMzansi

He passed away in the early morning of 23 February 2022, and South Africa has been mourning the loss of a great rapper, style icon and father ever since.

But while the country had a chance to come to terms with the devastating loss of Rikhado “Riky Rick” Makhado, Big Brother contestant Musician Vyno Miller, real name Bongani Sikhukhula, has been in the secluded house and unaware that his friend and colleague has passed away.

Vyno was given the bad news a day after eviction and is struggling to process it. “It’s still shockingly new to me,” he says in a calm tone.

“It’s very sensitive. I don’t know how people have been grieving outside of the house, but I am not okay,” he tells Drum.

Struggling to express himself, Vyno says he is still in shock and very hurt. “Riky was not just a friend but more like a brother to me,” he adds.

“He meant a lot to me. He was my advisor and really encouraged me with my career. Just to show some respect to his family, I won’t say too much, it’s still so sensitive and I haven’t gone through the emotions yet. But I won’t lie, I am not okay.”

Close friends have expressed their shock after learning of his death and prepare to lay him to rest on 1 March 2022.

Being out of the Big Brother house, Vyno feels fresh and slightly renewed. “I loved every moment of it and there’s nothing I would have done differently,” he says.

“I came into the house and everything I’ve done has always been a reflection of me. I am fully excited and content with how I played my game. I don’t know why I was chosen to leave but I am content.”

He’d expected to be out in the first week, he admits. “I didn’t think I was gonna last this long. I planned a maximum of two weeks. I expected people would get me out earlier because I was already in the industry and that meant I had an advantage over other people who were not known yet. But I am glad I lasted longer. My music was already out, I knew I had an advantage. I chose to be myself. I enjoyed everyone in their differences.”

The musician says he wishes all the contestants well and doesn’t have any enemies in the house. “I know everyone has their own issues and needs that money; I can’t say who deserves it more. I didn’t go in the house to leave with R 2 million. My heart was not in the money. I came to know each person for who they are.”

Surprisingly, his current favourite is the same person who put him up on the eviction live. “My favourite was Sis Tamara. She is really playing the game. She won Head Of House twice, meaning she is really fighting for it.”

At the beginning of the show, he says he bonded with Gash1 but the connection didn’t last. “I did not have much communication with Gash1, we started like a house on fire and there was a certain change and mood when he saw me and Terry getting closer and closer. I was okay with that, but I have no issues with him.”

Vyno also had an intimate relationship with Terry and while in the house they confirmed they were in a relationship. “Terry and I go beyond the game, there’s real-life outside the house,” he says.

“What we have is different. We have a lot in common and our relationship will go beyond the house whether intimate or not.”

While Terry is still in the house, he would be gutted if she were to “hook up” with anyone else. “I will be disappointed if she hooks up with anyone else in the house. But I am human, and I also behave like we are married. She must follow her heart and do what makes her happy. I don’t want when people see her, they see me.”

The two knew each other before Big Brother but only got closer at the house, he adds.

At the moment, he is focusing on mourning his late friend and using his renewed energy to finalise the details of his upcoming amapiano album. He is signed under DJ Maphorisa’s record label, New New Money Gang, and is hoping to release the project in the new few weeks.

“Music the whole way. I was supposed to release an album before going into the house but all will be confirmed soon. I don’t even have an album title yet but I got new inspiration from being in the house, new feelings and thoughts and I’m ready for the next step of my career,” he says.

This eviction was one of the most dramatic evictions thus far on this season’s Big Brother Mzansi, Yoli, Norman, and Vyno were sent packing in the shocking triple eviction.

Speaking to host Lawrence Maleka, Yolanda “Yoli” Glover said she wasn’t surprised about her eviction. “I expected it. The competition I was up against was tight.”

When asked if she thought anyone betrayed her by nominating her, the teacher from Pinetown said she felt there was no malice behind her housemates’ votes. “I genuinely think I was nominated because I hadn’t stood up yet. They were like, ‘She hasn’t been nominated yet, so let her be nominated’. I trust my gut.”

A calm Norman Nhlapo says he appreciated every moment spent in the house, saying: “The only prize wasn’t the R2 million, it was the exposure to tell my story and to represent my people.”

The daycare worker based in Hillbrow, Johannesburg says, he enjoyed being in the house. “I didn’t survive, I lived.”

He also says he was proud that he always remained himself, while everyone else in the House were “snakes”.

There are 11 housemates left in the game, with the mouth-watering R2 million cash prize up for grabs and, to quote host Lawrence Maleka: “Life in Big Brother Mzansi is like a board game – every move the housemates make counts.”

Big Brother Mzansi season 3 is broadcast live 24/7 on DStv Channel 198. The daily highlights show is broadcast on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161), Tuesdays to Fridays at 10.30pm. Sunday eviction shows are broadcast on Mzansi Magic at 6pm. – NEWS24