On Thursday 3 June, the Eastern Cape's Wild Coast becomes the stage for the latest Survivor battle for R1-million on M-Net.
Survivor SA: Immunity Island keeps it local for Season 8 because of the pandemic and we love the location. The moody Wild Coast feels like nowhere else on earth.
We have no doubt it's going to be a perfect setting for the backstabbing of the season's 20 castaways.
They are:
Amy Eliason
Age: 33
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Corporate lawyer
Amy 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
Age: 25
From: Johannesburg
Profession: Math Educator & Rugby Coach
Anela
is originally from Durban but now calls Joburg 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
Age: 29
From: Johannesburg
Occupation: Medical doctor, yoga teacher and small business owner
Anesu describes herself as ‘a natural leader, healer, earth lover and avid dreamer’. The Yoga teacher 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
Age: 29
From: Cape Town
Occupation: Corporate Sales Executive & Entrepeneur
Carla 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 Chapman
Age: 32
From: Centurion
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Francois is better known as ‘Chappies’ to his friends and fellow Castaways. 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
Age: 30
From: Johannesburg
Occupation: Live Escape Game owner
Dino 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
Age: 27
From: Johannesburg
Occupation: Structural Engineering Draughtsman
Jason packed his hair elastics as the first item into his bag for the game - 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 to use it to his advantage, while networking and having options to move in the game.
Kiran Naidoo
Age: 29
From: Johannesburg
Occupation: Strategy Consultant
Kiran
is Durban-born and 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
Age: 35
From: Tulbagh
Occupation: Boervrou and guest house owner
Marisha 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
Age: 32
From: Cape Town
Occupation: Lawyer
Mike 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
Age: 26
From: Somerset West
Occupation: Digital Marketing Manager
Nicole: “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. I am a passionate and enthusiastic woman.
A go-getter and always up for a challenge. 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.
Noleen Nkanjeni
Age: 30
From: Cape Town
Occupation: Freelancer
Noleen, 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”.
Paul Cupido
Age: 29
From: Johannesburg
Occupation: Aftercare Teacher
Paul
describes himself as ‘single / very single’, and 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.
Qieän (pronounced ‘Key-hahn’) Wang
Age: 35
From: Cape Town
Occupation: Fun-employed (we also have no clue what this means)
Qieän is Taiwan born and currently Hong Kong based. She 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 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
Age: 30
From: Secunda
Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Renier: “I’ve been playing the hypothetical game in my head for the past 5 years, discussing it and breaking it down with my wife and having loads of fun doing so.”
"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 Englebrecht
Age: 39
From: Strand
Occupation: Online Business Owner and former Creative Director at eNCA
It’s a case of ‘4
th time’s the charm’ for Santoni 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
Age: 40
From: Cape Town
Occupation: I.T. entrepreneur
Shaun is Norwich-born, Jo’burg-bred and now Capetonian, is 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-Afrika
Age: 36
From: Uitenhage
Occupation: Marketing officer
Thoriso is PE-born and 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
Age: 24
From: Johannesburg
Occupation: Director and entrepreneur
Tyson:
“I'm a super creative, a jack of all trades and a perfectionist to a fault. I love animals more than people,” says the Durban-born entrepreneur.
“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
Age: 39
From: Johannesburg
Occupation: Yoga instructor and fitness professional
Wardah:
“I officially celebrate four decades on the planet this year, and I have learnt plenty about myself and about how human beings behave,” she says.
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”.
New episode will air weekly at 19h30.