BootCamp Mzansi - Celebrity Edition (formerly known as Kabelo's Bootcamp) is a South African reality competition television series produced by Connect TV in which contestants compete against each other in varying physical and psychological challenges with the hope of losing the most weight and conquering their personal trials at the end.
The series began life as Kabelo's Bootcamp, hosted by Kabelo "Bouga Luv" Mabalane, with the aim to help 10 contestants from across South Africa transform their lives for the better by shedding their excessive weight and personal demons.
Over the course of 11 weeks, five male and five female contestants competed against each other in varying physical and psychological challenges with the hope of losing the most weight and conquering their personal trials at the end.
The contestant who lost the least amount of weight and displayed the least amount of determination after every week of challenges was eliminated.
Aided by a distinguished team of health and nutritional experts who made special appearances on the show, Kabelo cracked the whip to motivate and advise each contestant on how to get the best out of their Bootcamp experience, as well as take back control of their lives.
After two seasons the show was reinvented as BootCamp Mzansi - Celebrity Edition, with the 12 contestants now facing the challenges and workouts set by a cast of handpicked celebrity trainers.
The new BootCamp trainers were drawn primarily from the world of entertainment and sport – with a few surprise trainers also set to make their presence felt on the show.
As with Seasons 1 and 2, headed by Kabelo Mabalane, BootCamp Mzansi sees a dozen South Africans learn to take charge of their bodies, minds and ultimately their lives - boot camp style.
This time around, the emphasis is on the individual journey of the contestants as they attempt a transformation in their lives, with all the blood, sweat, tears and joy that accompanies it.
The contestants will live in the BootCamp Mzansi house for 11 weeks. During each week, a celebrity trainer will enter the house to take the bootcampers through a morning workout, an afternoon workout, a challenge and, then, an elimination. The contestant who loses the least amount of weight and displays the least amount of determination after every week of challenges is eliminated.
The emphasis is on empowering contestants to face their personal life challenges with conviction, knowledge and courage, especially when they leave the BootCamp house for good.
The Celebrity Trainer's role is to ensure that the contestants walk away with the tools to effect a holistic transformation on themselves, even if they leave the BootCamp house during the early elimination rounds.
Produced by Connect TV, the series producer for the first two seasons was Nonkululeko Raphata with executive producers Clifford Elk and Basetsana Kumalo. The series director was Ntuthuko Mtshali.
For Season 3, Kopano Gelman joined as an executive producer and the series director was Shahir Chundra.
Winners
Season 1: Thabo Mboya
Season 2: Thapelo Mabusweni
Season 3: Bonginkosi