Season 2
Reality Check returns for a second season, this time with three new celebrities: choreographer Somizi Mhlongo, musician Bongani Fassie and actress Boity Thulo, who swap their glamorous celebrity lifestyles for some intensely laborious charity work.
These high maintenance divas are at a reflective phase in their lives and careers. They have realised that they are more fortunate than others, and therefore keen to land a helping hand where they can.
This season, they will pursue that mission: to do fabulously good deeds as they know best in communities often forgotten.
The three divas will participate in social activities such as waste management to learn more about recycling and littering in the townships. They will also assist in fundraising initiatives for various causes such as old age homes, stray animals up to organic farming.
They will also be planting vegetables, cleaning chicken hacks, feeding cattle and joining other environmental awareness organisation.
They will be required to use their business connections, fame and flattery to make a big impact by making small wishes happen.
This season a reward of R2,000 will be given for each episodic task that is successfully executed by the socialites. This means they have the potential to raise up to R24,000 by the end of the season. They will donate this amount to a charity that touched their hearts.
The show was launched last year with the sexy and sultry threesome, Nonhle Thema, Babalwa Mneno and Khanyi Mbau swapping their heels and city slicker comforts for an experience that changed their lives and those who were exposed to their fabulous deeds.
The Stars
Boitumelo "Boity" Thulo
This South African beauty was raised in Potchefstroom by her aunt and her grandparents. Boity studied Psychology and Criminology for two years before dropping out to sign up with a casting agent.
She emphatically states that she knew from a young age that she wanted to be in the entertainment industry. The Wimpy Cheesenator commercial was her very first casting. She then landed a number of TV presenting gigs in succession, including SkyRoom Live.
Also an excellent athlete, Boity's career in entertainment is soaring at an unbelievable altitude even with the criticism. So then, Princess Boity needs to spend some time in the shoes of the common man. She's never seen the bottom.
Bongani Fassie
Bongani, a young man who grew up under his mother's shadow is getting ready to step out and carve his own life path. The son of Brenda Fassie and a former Big Dudes band member, Bongani's parents are now deceased. He has a one year old daughter named Brenda Nombuso Fassie with long term girlfriend Buhle Sangweni.
He is evidently a passionate and talented musician who plays piano, drums, guitar and congas. He produced hip hop and pop hits as a solo and a group artist. At the age of 10, Bongani released his debut solo album entitled African Boy.
It is safe to say he lived a cherished life with parents that were musicians and public figures. It is time for a Reality Check.
Somizi Mhlongo
The Soweto-born choreographer is the son of legendary actors and entertainers Mary Twala and Ndaba Mhlongo. As a child, Somizi spent a lot of time travelling with his parents on shows. He started his acting career at the age of 6 and has since worked on a number of South African classics like Sarafina, Cry the Beloved Country and Scavengers.
Since then he has acquired a very expensive lifestyle, a penchant for designer clothes, expensive drinks, dream cars and most of all, he loves attention.
He has worked in the entertainment industry for over three decades and has worked with the likes of R Kelly, Shakira and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. He has also choreographed the Miss Teen SA pageants, the 2010 Soccer World Cup opening and closing ceremonies and the 50th Anniversary of the AU in Ethiopia.
It is time we see this flamboyant diva give his fabulous lifestyle a break.