Who is Sweet Guluva? Meet the bubbly Big Brother Mzansi season 5 winner
Big Brother Mzansi's season 5 winner, Sweet Guluva, captivated audiences from beginning to end, but the series' fans were left asking who the man behind the larger-than-life persona is. Sweet Guluva is a South African media figure, singer and entertainer who got his big break through the reality show, with hopes of becoming a prominent actor.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Sweet Guluva's profile summary
- Sweet Guluva's Big Brother Mzansi appearance made him a household name
- The Big Brother Mzansi winner earned a cash prize of R2 million
- Sweet Guluva from BBM is 23 years old and just starting in the entertainment world
- How Sweet Guluva's song with DJ Zinhle came to fruition
- Sweet Guluva hails from KwaZulu-Natal and studied at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Frequently asked questions
- Final word
Key takeaways
- Sweet Guluva's real name is Akhonamathemba Mbele, but the reality TV figure is best known by his professional moniker.
- He hails from rural KwaZulu-Natal and became a household name via his Big Brother Mzansi appearance and subsequent win.
- Sweet Guluva’s biography tells the story of a man who, despite some hardships in life, remained dedicated to his vision and became a household name through his endearing persona and savvy when in the Big Brother Mzansi house.
Sweet Guluva's profile summary
| Full name | Akhonamathemba Mbele |
| Nickname | Sweet Guluva |
| Age | 23 years old (as of August 2025) |
| Date of birth | October 22, 2001 |
| Birthplace | Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Current residence | Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Marital status | Single |
| Parents | Bongiwe Zwane (father unknown) |
| Siblings | Lwazi Zwane (deceased) |
| Education | Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) |
| Profession | Media personality, singer, aspiring actor |
| Social media | InstagramTikTokX (Twitter)Facebook |
Sweet Guluva's Big Brother Mzansi appearance made him a household name
South Africans first got to know Sweet Guluva, or Akhonamathemba Mbele, through being a contestant on season five of Big Brother Mzansi.
His laid-back nature and light-hearted humour made him a favourite with fans and contestants, and his strategic gameplay helped him come out on top as the season's winner.
Source: Original
The Big Brother Mzansi winner earned a cash prize of R2 million
Akhonamathemba walked home after the 72-day competition R2 million richer, and The Saturday Star reported that the season winner was quoted on social media after his win as saying:
'Greetings to viewers and everyone who follows me. I am very grateful to everyone who voted for me and supported me. I couldn’t have done it without you. Please do watch me in the acting space and music, especially Amapiano.'
Sweet Guluva from BBM is 23 years old and just starting in the entertainment world
Akhonamathemba was still studying when he joined the BBM house, but had hopes of superstardom through his passion for acting and singing beforehand, with his big break finally coming to fruition since his win.
Sweet Guluva's self-titled song with DJ Zinhle has been making waves since he won the reality TV series, and DRUM reported how Akhonamathemba has seized all opportunities thrown his way since the win. Of what is next, he said:
'What's next is what I have always wanted to do from the beginning. It makes me happy to finally be making music'
Source: UGC
How Sweet Guluva's song with DJ Zinhle came to fruition
The same article reported that DJ Zinhle and Akhonamathemba decided to work together following having a lot of commonality, including coming from the same province and DJ Zinhle knowing his mother personally. Of their song together, he told the magazine:
'DJ Zinhle had an idea of how to bring the song to life, so once I got to the studio, there was a beat already waiting for me. She wanted it to be my introduction into music as she was aware of my desire to get into music.'
Sweet Guluva hails from KwaZulu-Natal and studied at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Sweet Guluva's home town is Nquthu, a rural area in KwaZulu-Natal where he was born and raised by his mother. Akhonamathemba's father, although not identified, passed away while he was young, and he also lived with his late sister at one point.
Akhonamathemba was still a student at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology when he joined the Big Brother Mzansi house. Daily News reports that he was in his third year of studying Business Information and Administration when joining, and has two years left to complete his qualification.
Source: UGC
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Sweet Guluva's sister?
In early May 2025, Akhonamathemba's team released a statement that was later posted to Instagram story, which announced that his sister, Lwazi Zwane, had tragically passed away. The statement included requesting privacy for the family, but did not mention a cause of death.
Are Sweet Guluva and Ashley still together?
According to her Instagram bio, Sweet Guluva's former girlfriend, Ashley Ogle, is an entertainer, songwriter, media personality, activist and IBA light flyweight Celebrity Boxing Champion. Ashley and Sweet Guluva first met while they were both in the Big Brother house.
They initially bonded over both being from KwaZulu-Natal, but reportedly broke up in late July 2025. On August 5, 2025, Facebook blogger Tini Premiere posted a photo of Sweet Guluva posing with an unidentified woman, claiming she is his new girlfriend. However, he has not confirmed the speculation.
Source: UGC
What is special about Sweet Guluva?
Some wonder how an otherwise unassuming, young contestant on the reality TV series went on to win, but his ability to connect with others is often mentioned as being one of his greatest strengths. Akhonamathemba's natural authenticity and kindness also made him a fan favourite.
Final word
Sweet Guluva's Big Brother win made him an overnight sensation, winning the hearts of South Africans nationwide. The humble rising sta has high hopes of a lasting career in entertainment, and with his latest self-titled song with DJ Zinhle being a hit, his newfound fame is only a stepping stone for bigger things to come.
READ MORE: Nelisa Mchunu's biography: All about SA's beloved TV star
Briefly.co.za wrote about another beloved TV figure, Nelisa Mchunu. Nelisa is a talented South African actress best known for playing Fikile in Uzalo, but has been in the industry since 2015.
Acting runs in the family, as she has siblings who are also in the entertainment industry. Nelisa's talent reaches further than acting, having walked the runway for Mita-N Dezynz clothing brand and also being known for philanthropic endeavours.
Source: Briefly News
