Married at First Sight South Africa is a South African reality television series based on the format developed by Snowman Productions, in which six young South Africans tie the knot to a partner they meet for the very first time at the altar.
The unique reality show sees a number of specialists team up to help 'scientifically' match the couples in the hope that they will find true love.
The three couples in Married at First Sight South Africa rely on this panel of experts to match them with their partner and they then have six weeks, with the specialists nurturing their new relationships, to decide whether they're going to stay together or separate.
Extensive production interviews and sessions with a panel of specialists and a fully format trained production team have prepared the six singles for their walk down the aisle.
So who have they put their trust in?
Paula Quinsee – Relationship Expert
Paula is a certified Imago Educator and Professional Facilitator and NLP Life Coach. As a Relationship Expert, she teaches individuals and organisations the importance of healthy relationships using emotional intelligence skills. Paula is a motivational speaker and writes articles for a number of platforms.
Neo Tshireletso Pule – Counselling Psychologist
Neo earned the M.Sc. Counselling Psychology degree at the University of the Free State and she is currently acquiring a doctoral degree in Consulting Psychology at the University of South Africa. She has an established private practice in Pretoria and her area of expertise includes the areas of relationship and family dynamics; adjustment and personal development.
Professor Shingai Mutambirwa – Sex Health Specialist
He holds M Med (Urology) Medunsa and FCS (Urol) degrees. Shingai has a busy private practice at Clinix Tshepo Themba Hospital where a number of research projects are conducted under his other cap as Head of Department of Urology at Dr George Mukhari Academic hospital and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria South Africa. Not only is he the current head of the academic committee for South African Urological Association, but he serves on a number of boards and is regularly called on by the media for interviews.
Winnie Kunene – Financial Expert
Winnie studied Business Management at WITS and attained a post graduate qualification from GIMT, Senior Executive Program at Harvard Business School in Boston USA and University of the North School of Micro Finance. She is referred to by many as the Money Psychologist – simply because she teaches and inspires people to love and feel comfortable to talk about money and she does it in a simple way. She inspires, teaches and informs people about money and her work is frequently featured on various radio and televisions stations.
ADDED IN SEASON 2
Martsie Dreyer – Psychologist
New to the panel in Season 2 is psychologist Martsie Dreyer. She is a registered Counselling Psychologist with many years' experience in the field of Counselling Psychology and Organisational Development. She works at a firm where, among other roles, she is a consultant to Small, Medium and Big businesses focusing on the development of high performing teams and organisations.
Well known radio and television presenter Sam Cowen is also a contributor on the show, playing the role of facilitator as a Life Expert.
Married At First Sight is produced by Oxyg3n Media on behalf of A+E Networks UK. The executive producers are Diana Carter, Koulla Anastasi and Rebecca Fuller-Campbell. The producer / director is Devin O'Malley.