Survivor South Africa is ending the year-long Survivor drought as the series is set to return on June 3, and, today, M-Net officially revealed the new castaways taking part in the highly-anticipated eighth season.
The upcoming season, titled Immunity Island, wrapped up filming on the Wild Coast of South Africa in December 2020. It was the first of the English-speaking editions of Survivor to resume filming following the production shut down due to COVID-19.
“All cast and crew did quarantine time, under supervision of production, before entering the production bubble,” M-Net explained last year. “Health and safety functions were paramount to the operational structures and support services like marketing and publicity operated outside the bubble.”
The new season will see 20 castaways battling it out on home soil for the grand prize of R1Million and the title of Ultimate Survivor. Get a first look at the new cast in the video below:
There’s no bigger challenge than #SurvivorSA, and here are the castaways toughing it out this season! Immunity Island premieres on Thursday 3 June at 19:30.
— Survivor_SA (@Survivor_SA) May 2, 2021
Cast photos below:
Amy Eliason (33)
Corporate lawyer Amy Eliason (33) says her favourite drink – red wine – also led to her submitting an entry for this season of the show. “I was at a braai and the advertisement for Survivor came on TV and with my red wine-stained lips and teeth I proclaimed ‘I can do that!’,” she says. “I then proceeded to film my messy audition video, which somehow got me selected!”
Anela Majozi (25)
25-year-old maths educator and rugby coach Anela Majozi – originally from Durban but now calling Johannesburg home – describes himself as ‘a typical Gemini’. “I’m simple yet also elaborate, deliberate and measured in my approach – and somehow also very careless at times,” he says.
Anesu Mbizvo (29)
Johannesburg’s Anesu Mbizvo (29) describes herself as ‘a natural leader, healer, earth lover and avid dreamer’. The medical doctor, yoga teacher and small business owner says of entering: “I am constantly searching for ways to grow and evolve and I wanted to enter Survivor so that I could find out who I would be when everything was stripped away and I was pushed to my limits”.
Carla Gubb (26)
Carla Gubb (29), a corporate sales executive and entrepreneur from Cape Town, says that having watched every season of Survivor that has aired over the past 20 years, she still believes you can never be prepared. “The game is so different every season and every player is unique, which makes it impossible to predict what is going to happen, or how to play,” she says.
Francois “Chappies” Chapman (32)
Francois Chapman – ‘Chappies’ to his friends and fellow castaways – is 32 and calls Centurion home. He describes himself as an optimist by nature, who loves life and strives to make a positive impact in others’ lives by living his life to the fullest. “Swim upstream or don’t swim at all,” is his motto. Chappies says there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to win the game. “No hard feelings, just a hard game,” he says.
Dino Paulo (30)
30-year-old Johannesburg-based live escape game owner Dino Paulo says his greatest strength is being able to laugh at himself, or throughout a tough situation, which has helped him demonstrate resilience. “Being easy-going and highly adaptable should have its advantages too,” he says.
Jason Brookstein (27)
The first thing structural engineering draughtsman Jason Brookstein (27) packed into his bag for the game were his hair elastics – odd, then, that he says one of his greatest weaknesses is ‘barber shops’. Citing Joe Anglim, Ozzy Lusth, and Sarah Lacina as his favourite-ever Survivor players, he says his strategy going into the game is to spot vulnerability and use it to his advantage, while networking and having options to move in the game.
Kiran Naidoo (29)
Durban-born strategy consultant Kiran Naidoo (29) absolutely adores competition. “Playing ‘for fun’ is quite literally the most annoying concept in the world,” he says. “I am exceptionally curious about the world around me and the motivations behind why people do what they do. Lastly, I’m super sarcastic and quick-witted, if you don’t pick it up you may think I’m mean… shame”.
Marisha du Plessis (35)
‘Boervrou and guest house owner’ Marisha du Plessis (35, from Tulbagh) describes herself as ‘outgoing, strong and very driven’ – and hates being told she cannot or may not do something. While her greatest weakness is not being able to hide her true self, she says her strengths are how good she is with people, relationships, and the way she never gives up.
Mike Laws (32)
Originally from Johannesburg, Cape Town-based lawyer Mike Laws (32) calls himself ‘a classic city slicker’. “I’m a corporate law geek with anxiety issues, strong opinions and a big heart”. He entered this season ‘to see if a neurotic, city-slicker, white-collar geek could crack it in the wild’ and prepared by learning to tie knots – though declares himself ‘useless’ at it.
Nicole Wilmans (26)
“I think I was born to be on Survivor – I love the thrill of the game and how it challenges you in every possible way imaginable,” says Stellenbosch-born digital marketing manager Nicole Wilmans (26). “I am a passionate and enthusiastic woman. A go-getter and always up for a challenge,” she says. Having packed her bikini first – adamant she was going to get that ‘Survivor glow’ – Nicole says she feels like she’d been preparing her whole life for the game.
Paul Cupido (29)
Describing himself as ‘single / very single’, Paul Cupido (29) is an aftercare teacher, who thinks of himself as ‘a kind and loving person, with a spontaneously positive outlook on life’. “I’m someone who’s always up for a challenge – spiritually, mentally and physically and someone who often puts others before himself,” he says. He entered Survivor SA because he wanted to be part of a social experiment, but also because he was craving a new adventure and a bit of excitement in his life.
Noleen “Pinty” Nkanjeni (30)
Freelancer Noleen Nkanjeni (30), better known as Pinty, loves learning how to do new things and to go beyond her limits. “That’s why I like to think of myself as a ‘Janet of all trades’ who knows a little more than just a little about many different things,” says Pinty. “Meeting new people and having meaningful, honest interactions is one of my favourite things”.
Qiean Wang (35)
‘Funemployed’, Taiwan-born, Qieän Wang (35) – pronounced ‘Key-hahn’ – loves having the freedom to explore nature and be immersed in it. She describes herself as ‘highly empathetic, kind and fiercely loyal’ – something for which she says she is often taken for granted, for. “Expect some tears. I’m definitely am not one who is afraid to show her vulnerability! Hopefully the viewers will recognize me for my kind, nurturing nature and not mistaken it for someone who is not aggressive,” she says.
Renier Louwrens (30)
“I’ve been playing the hypothetical game in my head for the past five years, discussing it and breaking it down with my wife and having loads of fun doing so,” says chemical engineer Renier Louwrens (30, from Secunda) of his preparations to play the game. “My wife and I have watched every season of Survivor out there. It’s my dream to be able to play the game I’ve grown so fond of over the past 20 years,” he says.
Santoni Engelbrecht (39)
It’s a case of ‘fourth time’s the charm’ for online business owner Santoni Engelbrecht (39, from Strand), as she finally got her wish of becoming a Survivor SA castaway after three previous attempts. “I love the dynamics of the show and always wanted to enter. I’m such a ‘non-Survivor-looking person’ and I wanted to show people that anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” she says.
Shaun Wilson (40)
Norwich-born, Jo’burg-bred and now Capetonian Shaun Wilson (40) is an IT entrepreneur – a ’geek who has an affinity for adventure and the biggest soft spot for dogs’. His preparation for Survivor SA was non-existent. “Lockdown hit and I perfected my baking skills, spending time with my dogs and improving my KD rate on Apex Legends,” he says.
Thoriso M-Africa (36)
PE-born marketing officer Thoriso M-Afrika (36) describes herself as ‘the eternal optimist, fiercely loyal and a colourful character who lives in my own world’. “I’ll stand out as an anomaly on the show because I wouldn’t be caught dead camping, am a creature of comfort and would probably die if I ever did something like this alone,” she says.
Tyson Zulu (24)
“I’m a super creative, a jack of all trades and a perfectionist to a fault. I love animals more than people,” says Durban-born creative director and entrepreneur Tyson Zulu (24). “10/10 times I’ll always speak my mind and do what I feel”. He entered Survivor SA as a learning experience. “I want to be a big player in the Film & TV industry and learning, first-hand, from the biggest show in the country is a massive opportunity,” he says.
Wardah Hartley (39)
“I officially celebrate four decades on the planet this year, and I have learnt plenty about myself and about how human beings behave,” says yoga instructor and fitness professional Wardah Hartley (39). After having been a journalist for 20 years, she developed the ability to quickly connect and build trust with virtually anyone she meets. “I wanted to put myself in an environment where I could put all of these valuable life lessons to the test – Survivor SA is my Masterclass”.
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I’m not exactly an expert on South African culture, entertainment, or politics, but according to the 2011 South African census accessed via Wikipedia, only 9% of the South African population is white, with 79% considered “African,” 9% considered “Coloured,” and 3% Indian/Asian/other. Yet approximately 12 out of these 20 visibly appear to my American eyes as what I would think of as white. Since there has been a lot of discussion around diversity in US Survivor recently, I wonder how this is viewed in their country.
Blacks are an economical minority in South Africa. They are marginalized in many situations.
Not out of anyone’s doing now besides the gov in charge.
Wow. Unable to enjoy a single article without having forced racial issues dragged in.
I wish people would stop this stupid group mentality and see people as individuals. Stop this nonsense.
We are having the brazillian version of survivor which starts next tuesday, are you covering it??
We will have a feature piece coming soon, but not full coverage.
Hopefully It will be good.
10 out of the 20 are white South Africans which meets the the 50% rule. I think because you’re American it may be hard to differentiate white from coloured . I am a South African Coloured and therefore it’s pretty easier for me to identify .
How can we watch this in the US?
A VERY YOUNG CAST! As the oldest is just 40
Survivor Brazil is premiering a new season next Tuesday. Why don’t you guys follow it too?
Can’t wait my people