Hirome Shigeaki bridges the gap: wins 'Die Brug' season 2 and shares the wealth
Image: Supplied
In an emotionally charged finale of "Die Brug" season 2, Hirome Shigeaki emerged victorious and took home the R720k prize pot.
This series centres on a group of contestants who join forces to construct a bridge.
The finale saw Suidhuis grappling with the emotional weight of deciding who would walk across the bridge. In a nail-biting vote, Hirome triumphed with three votes in his favour.
In a heart-warming twist, the 28-year-old occupational therapist from Worcester decided to share a large sum of his winnings with his Suidhuis teammates, giving away R65 000 each to Melissa and Hanri, R40 000 to Johan and R70 000 to Jaco.
"At first, I thought I'd take it all. I'm young, single and financially, I could use a boost. But then something unexpected happened, I started seeing people's hearts. I realised money doesn't last, but values and relationships? They last. I knew I'd share even before I knew I'd win," shared Shigeaki.
He added that when deciding how much to give his team, he kept it "simple and listened to my heart".
"I knew every Suidhuis member deserved to share in the victory. It wasn't about who contributed more or less. I specifically wanted to honour Johan, not just for his leadership, but because he was the only Noordhuis player who didn't take the money when he could have.
"To me, that was an act of character."
Hirome Shigeaki's bridge of trust crowns him as "Die Brug" season 2 winner.
Image: Supplied.
Hirome's journey on the popular reality show wasn't a straight road to success. After facing early elimination in episode two at Noordhuis, he was offered a second chance when he joined Suidhuis. This was when things took a turn.
"When you enter a competition like this, you never really know how far you'll go. The truth is, I should've gone home on day one. And yet, something in me knew: this isn't just a game of strength or strategy, it's a game of people. Relationships. Trust.
"And that's where I, as a person and as an occupational therapist, excel. So yes, I knew I brought something unique to the table. I wasn't the strongest physically, but my people skills worked in my favour."
Reflecting on his journey, Hirome opened up about the challenges he faced on the show.
"I entered the game with no idea how to build a bridge. I struggled with the ropes. I think I tied more knots in my head than on the rafts. But the bigger challenge was internal: the voices in my head asking if I was good enough and whether I was contributing enough.
"Some days, your biggest enemy isn't another player – it's your own thoughts."
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IOL News
01-08-2025
- IOL News
Hirome Shigeaki bridges the gap: wins 'Die Brug' season 2 and shares the wealth
Hirome Shigeaki, an occupational therapist from Worcester, bagged R720 000 as the winner of "Die Brug" season 2. Image: Supplied In an emotionally charged finale of "Die Brug" season 2, Hirome Shigeaki emerged victorious and took home the R720k prize pot. This series centres on a group of contestants who join forces to construct a bridge. The finale saw Suidhuis grappling with the emotional weight of deciding who would walk across the bridge. In a nail-biting vote, Hirome triumphed with three votes in his favour. In a heart-warming twist, the 28-year-old occupational therapist from Worcester decided to share a large sum of his winnings with his Suidhuis teammates, giving away R65 000 each to Melissa and Hanri, R40 000 to Johan and R70 000 to Jaco. "At first, I thought I'd take it all. I'm young, single and financially, I could use a boost. But then something unexpected happened, I started seeing people's hearts. I realised money doesn't last, but values and relationships? They last. I knew I'd share even before I knew I'd win," shared Shigeaki. He added that when deciding how much to give his team, he kept it "simple and listened to my heart". "I knew every Suidhuis member deserved to share in the victory. It wasn't about who contributed more or less. I specifically wanted to honour Johan, not just for his leadership, but because he was the only Noordhuis player who didn't take the money when he could have. "To me, that was an act of character." Hirome Shigeaki's bridge of trust crowns him as "Die Brug" season 2 winner. Image: Supplied. Hirome's journey on the popular reality show wasn't a straight road to success. After facing early elimination in episode two at Noordhuis, he was offered a second chance when he joined Suidhuis. This was when things took a turn. "When you enter a competition like this, you never really know how far you'll go. The truth is, I should've gone home on day one. And yet, something in me knew: this isn't just a game of strength or strategy, it's a game of people. Relationships. Trust. "And that's where I, as a person and as an occupational therapist, excel. So yes, I knew I brought something unique to the table. I wasn't the strongest physically, but my people skills worked in my favour." Reflecting on his journey, Hirome opened up about the challenges he faced on the show. "I entered the game with no idea how to build a bridge. I struggled with the ropes. I think I tied more knots in my head than on the rafts. But the bigger challenge was internal: the voices in my head asking if I was good enough and whether I was contributing enough. "Some days, your biggest enemy isn't another player – it's your own thoughts."
The Citizen
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Doornpoort local learns to reconnect with the warrior within
Doornpoort local learns to reconnect with the warrior within When Melissa Klein, a decorated Defence Force veteran with over 13 years of service, stepped onto the set of TV reality show Die Brug Season 2, she was not seeking fame: she was answering a call. 'After serving in the Defence Force for over 13 years, transitioning into civilian life left me with a longing to reconnect with a deeper version of myself,' Klein told Rekord. Though she had 'worn the uniform, carried the weight of leadership, and served with discipline', she still yearned for something more like a personal test, not just a professional one. When the chance to join Die Brug arose, she recognised in it not just a challenge, but 'a divine nudge'. During the programme, strangers join forces to complete a challenge that will test them physically and mentally. Contestants must work together to build a bridge to an island, where a cash prize is hidden, but just one contestant will walk away with the prize. Klein saw the show as an avenue to 'confront inner limits, push past the barriers I did not even know I had, and rediscover the warrior inside, the woman beyond the rank'. For her, Die Brug wasn't merely a reality show. It was the embodiment of her next step, a journey of self-reclamation. Preparing for the show meant more than physical training. It required heartwork. 'Preparation was not physical alone. Yes, I trained. But more than that, I prayed. I journaled. I did the work.' She understood that filming was as much an emotional journey as a physical one and approached it with intention and spiritual grounding. Once the game began, it became clear that the competition would test more than muscles. It would test resilience, faith, and emotional stamina. 'Die Brug stripped me emotionally,' she reflects. It pressured her to 'remain true to myself and my military training'. What surprised her most was discovering 'how much strength I truly carry as a woman of faith and a mom'. A proud representative of Doornpoort, she carries her community's spirit with her. 'Doornpoort is more than just a location. It is my home. It is where I raise my boys.' She feels deeply connected to the suburb in the north of Pretoria. Even if people may not know her by name, she never feels like an outsider. Her role on national TV has gently bridged her private and public life, turning her story into one that resonates far beyond her professional life. Klein's values, faith, family, motherhood, military discipline, and life's adversities have shaped her unshakeable character. 'My faith in God, my journey as a wife and mother to my amazing boys, my training in the military and every hardship I have overcome have shaped me.' Being underestimated and misjudged earlier in life did not break her. Instead, those experiences became fuel for the fire within. 'But it's the grace of God that gave me peace and purpose.' Day One of Die Brug provided an unexpected shock: her peers chose her as leader. For someone accustomed to feeling overlooked, this gesture hit deep. 'That shook me. As someone who's often felt unseen or underestimated, that moment forced me to confront my own self-doubt.' Through this, she realised: 'Women like me do deserve seats at the table. And not just any table, the ones that shape decisions and destinies.' As a role model for women across the nation, she wants her journey to echo far beyond the confines of the show's set. 'You don't have to be loud to be powerful.' Her vision reaches far beyond the reality show. Together with her husband, Jeremy, she leads groups focused on serving the homeless, mentoring youth, and spreading practical faith in the streets. Her final message is on comfort. Comfort, she warns, is growth's enemy. She encourages her community and anyone thinking of stepping into unknown territory to embrace criticism, keep going, and be the catalyst for others. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
IOL News
16-05-2025
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Shocking plot twist: episode two of 'Die Brug' unveils a dramatic shake-up
Hirome Shigeaki from Worcester, Western Cape. Image: Instagram Don't you just love a juicy plot twist? Because kykNET's "Die Brug" just gave us a whole buffet of drama in episode two. After last week's brutal start, where a contestant was immediately voted off (yes, in the first episode, we're still recovering), this week came back swinging with a twist we didn't see coming. We were all wondering who that mysterious new guy was, and boom! Turns out Hirome isn't just some cute extra thrown in for drama, he's a full-on player from an entirely different house called "Noord Huis". Yes, there's been a second house all along. What in the Big Brother multiverse is going on? Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The big reveal came after Hirome entered "Suid Huis" (South House), and jaws hit the floor when the show explained he was originally from "Noord Huis" (North House). But instead of going home, plot twist number two hit: he swapped houses and joined the Suid Huis gang. But wait, it gets juicier. Wilhrisca, who we thought was gone for good, popped up in Noord Huis. These producers are playing chess while the rest of us are playing dominoes! And now? It's two houses, both packed with players gunning for that million rand. Trust is fragile, alliances are forming, and the power plays are starting to show. Everyone's building bridges (literally and figuratively), but they're also sizing each other up, and we are here for it. Let's start with the biggest twist: Hirome, the 27-year-old occupational therapist from Worcester, who was quietly voted out of Noord Huis in the very first episode. Instead of heading home, he made a re-entry into the game - this time into Suid Huis, posing as a newcomer. He lost his mother young, bounced through the foster system, and was later adopted. Today, he's channelling his life experience into his career and his game strategy. With his calm presence, people might underestimate him. Over in Noord Huis, the mix is fierce and fascinating. Fitness coach Lelani Loots, 39, from Centurion, has chosen herself this season, no kids, no compromises, and no time for nonsense. She's joined by fellow Centurion CrossFit coach Anesca Latsky, a 35-year-old mother of two who embraces her 'bossy' side. She's loud, direct, and not afraid to lead, though that approach might cause tension in a house full of strong personalities. Montagu's Roscoe Pekeur, also 39, known as boxing promoter Roscoe Rumble, brings quiet strength and honesty. Sober for over a decade, he speaks openly about his struggles and leans on faith, making him both grounded and unpredictable. Then there's Johan Steyn, a 55-year-old rock mechanic and beekeeper from Rustenburg. Soft-spoken and observant, Steyn brings calm 'dad energy' and might just outlast louder players with his steady approach. Rechaux Browne, 43, from Strand, is a mother of eight with a strong heart and unshakable calm, shaped by life's hardships, including her daughter's health battles. She could be the emotional centre or the unexpected strategist. Middelburg's Tiaan van Niekerk, 35, is a reserved farmer stepping far outside his comfort zone. He's quiet, but definitely watching and in this game, quiet can be dangerous. With Wilhrisca now in the mix after Hirome's transfer to Suid Huis, Noord Huis is shifting fast.
