This season of M-Net’s Survivor, is now entering it’s final stages, with the bench of jurors, looking more intimidating than the few outcasts still remaining in the game.  But is it too soon to tell who the ultimate Survivor will be? And the answer is without a doubt yes, because, with Survivor, you never know, until you know.

In another episode, where Rob once again proclaimed his statue as the alpha male of this season, it was unfortunately Mike, who got the boot in this week’s episode, leaving with a bag full of strategies, for maybe a next time.

Our friends at M-Net had a chat with him, and here are his answers.

How do you feel about leaving in the home stretch of the game?

Whilst there’s a sense of loss in leaving the game, I feel a sense of validation in leaving the game. I lasted 35 days, and was a serious contender throughout. I planned meticulously, and would rather leave after taking a shot, than meander aimlessly to the end.

Tribal council was explosive. How did you feel when you found out you were the target?

I was initially shocked by the revelation, as I believed that my plan was more beneficial to Durao and Nicole than working with Rob, as I felt that we had a better chance at beating each other than against Rob. However, I soon felt strangely serene about being named the target, as there was no turning back from it.

You often wanted to make a big move. Why do you think it never came to pass?

I hoped to subvert the dominance of the Sa’ula alliance, and was not able to achieve this because the allies I relied on felt an unprecedented loyalty toward Rob.

What was your strategy?

I planned to lay low, and be cool. I hoped to find myself in the middle of intersecting alliances, and imagined that it would take a precise realization of my plans to seize dominance in the end. I ignored many of my most basic impulses to deflect attention from myself, including my physical and intellectual aptitudes, and tried to use more vocal players to carry out my plans by instigating plans well in advance.

Where do you think it all went wrong for you?

By relying on Durao and Nicole, my cover was blown. However, I can’t think of a better set of options, because we consistently lacked the numerical requirements to upset the apple cart.

What was your highlight in the game?

Building a strong set of relationships at Laumei kept me safe until Ta’alo, where I managed to survive a tribe swap with no allies. I also played an instrumental role in causing the eventual removals of Rocco, Cobus and Seipei, who were all great players.

What was your lowest moment?

Having to vote for Geoff was horrible, and the morning after losing my great friend Mmaba was horrific.

Did you learn anything during your experience?

I learned that I am capable of enduring great discomfort, and that my everyday concerns are far less consequential than I imagined them to be. I feel far closer to understanding myself, and reject the prior obsession I had with materialism.

How much weight did you lose during your time on the Island?

Around 15KG.

You won Immunity quite a few times after merge. What did that feel like?

I didn’t care much for challenges, as I felt they were a distraction from the social aspect of the game, which is the most important in my mind. However, I desperately needed to win in the last vote, and it enabled me to see my dad, which was fantastic.

What will you be looking for when casting your vote for the sole survivor?

I would like to vote for someone who has been a strong custodian for the season, and someone who had consistently played a consequential game.

How do you feel about reuniting with your former alliance Geoff and Mmaba on the jury?

I believed Geoff and Mmaba might have loathed me for Geoff’s exit, but seeing them has reminded me that the most important win of the season is the bond we have built.

The game continues, with five survivors still in the game.  Who will get voted out next…

Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets is screened on M-Net every Thursday at 19:00. It will also be available on DStv CatchUp. Fans can visit www.mnet.tv/survivorsa and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Survivor Mike to take a Hike appeared first on Stage and Screen.

In this episode of M-Net’s Survivor: Islands of Secrets, saw Mike winning his first individual immunity, maybe worth more than what we think.  Steffi also claimed her 5th visit to the Islands of Secrets, with a very special Family Surprise.

After Jacques took his time looking for an hidden immunity idol re-introduced into the game, it was Leatitia who snatched it up, preparing the table for another game changer. At the end, it was Jacques, who smiled at host Nico, when he received his fate, leaving the tribal council area with the words, “No Regrets.”

Our friends at M-Net asked Jacques some questions after becoming the next member of the jury, and here is what he answered:

How do you feel about leaving in the home stretch of the game?

I knew they were gunning for me four weeks in a row. So my exit wasn’t a surprise when it happened. I’m grateful I could postpone it so long and force the majority alliance to turn on itself a lot earlier than it intended

What do you think contributed to the Tribe wanting you out?

Just like Dante, I saw through their agenda of how they kept players in the game who they knew they could manipulate. Thus they tried to silence the voice of reason and vote me out.

What was your highlight in the game?

So many! Solving the first 3D puzzle with Ting-Ting and knowing I won’t be the first one going home. Visiting that beautiful Samoan waterfall with Dante and Mike. Surviving with an Idol and stretching it for three weeks really grinded the remaining player’s gears. Loved the fight to the bitter end!

What was your lowest moment?

Ostracized for using a swear word.  The night of the Ting-Ting vote is a close second.

Did you learn anything during your experience?

In the game of Survivor, the Social game trumps the strategic and physical game.

How much weight did you lose during your time on the Island?

I lost 8kg’s! That’s insane for a dude who barely breaks into the 60kg category.

Which challenge was a highlight for you and why?

The first 3D puzzle I solved with Ting-Ting Was also insane that Durāo and I won doughnuts, going up against colossal physical beasts like Rocco, Rob, Steffi and Cobus.

Did you play the game you wanted to play? What was your strategy?

I 100% played the game. From day one I wanted to play Survivor and not be a passive zero-vote finalist. I truly lived my dream.

Where do you think it all went wrong for you?

My closest allies were all seen as massive threats (Seipei and Cobus). When they were taken out I had extremely little wiggle room to play the game.

You made some pretty bold moves in the game. Do you think that contributed to your exit?

Definitely. Some of my moves were great and some were terrible. However the people running the show were targeting the people they couldn’t control. As such, big move players such as myself, Seipei, Meryl and Cobus were targeted early in the Merge.

You are the one castaway that had the most advantages. Do you think they helped you prolong your stay?

It depends. I could have had zero advantages and still be in the game but everybody would view me as a passenger. I went out there to play the game and enjoy it. Having a bag of tricks was part of my journey and make for some great souvenirs now!

How do you feel about joining the jury?

The jury are literally all my favourite people in the game. I can’t wait to sit down and have drinks with them and enjoy our last week in Samoa.

What will you be looking for when casting your vote for the sole survivor?

I’ll base my vote on someone who can own their game and who made moves. If you were a troop soldier in someone else’s army, you can keep marching into the Zero-Vote-Finalist brigade.

The game continues, with six survivors still in the game.  Who will get voted out next…

Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets is screened on M-Net every Thursday at 19:00. It will also be available on DStv CatchUp. Fans can visit www.mnet.tv/survivorsa and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter and Facebook.

The post The Lem got Cut from Survivor appeared first on Stage and Screen.

In most probably the most heated episode of M-Net’s Survivor SA: Islands of Secrets, it was surely up to the last vote, to decide which castaway the tribed voted off.

At the end, after a tribal council where Jacques and Nicole had immunity, it was Mmaba who left the game, becoming yet another castaway to get the boot, with an immunity idol in her bag.  Mmaba made the Top 8, but will now serve as the next member of this reality show’s jury.

Our friends at M-Net caught up with this Survivor after the show, and here are some of the Questions asked, and answers given.

How do you feel about leaving in the home stretch of the game?

I can’t even explain how I am feeling; I am so emotional. It’s almost as though I could smell the win and the smell suddenly turned into a really bad rotten egg smell. I’m gutted and really disappointed at myself.

What do you think contributed to your blindside?

I think I’ve been an easy target throughout the game but winning the advantage at the Island of Secrets was the nail in the coffin.

You left with an Idol in your pocket. Did you trust your alliance that much?

I think it was more the paranoia than it was trusting the alliance. My gut feel throughout that day was telling me to play my Hidden Immunity Idol but for some reason in a split second I decided otherwise. My head was just all over the place.

What was your highlight in the game?

I’ve had so many highlights in the game that it’s really hard to pick one. But my best of them all would have to be my friendship with Geoffrey and Mike. I honestly didn’t think I would make such great and true connections in the game and that was a great surprise and definitely my highlight.

What was your lowest moment?

My last tribal council was definitely my lowest, especially because I could have saved myself from being blindsided but I ignored that sm

all voice inside of me. I think I will regret that for a while and will find it hard to forgive myself and move on from it.

Did you learn anything during your experience?

I learnt the importance of trusting my instincts/intuition because it’s there to serve and protect me. But I also learnt of the strength I have within me, strength that I didn’t even know I possessed. The game of survivor is tough, you go through everything while you’re on the island and to have made it to merge and then the top 8 has been the greatest accomplishment for me.

How much weight did you lose during your time on the Island?

I lost a whole 7kg! I never weighted below 60kgs since my teens!

The challenges seemed quite tough. Which one was the toughest for you?

It’s so weird because I loved the challenges and looked forward to them, but for some reason they didn’t love me back, every single one of them! But the toughest one has to be the one where we had to hold our breath, attached to a bar and suspended in water trying to survive the tide.

You won a challenge against Steffi on the Island of Secrets. How did that make you feel?

When I saw that challenge, I knew it was mine to win! I wasn’t even playing against Steffi at that point, it was Mmaba against Mmaba and I had to win.

How do you feel about joining the jury?

It’s such a strange feeling because I am still part of the game but also I’m not really part of it. I still need to make this really big important decision to vote for the sole survivor, so being part of the jury is such a huge responsibility.

What will you be looking for when casting your vote for the sole survivor?

I’m looking for a player that is playing the game in its fullness, not just the physical part of the game but also the social part. A player who will be able to defend their game play and take ownership of their big moves.

How do you feel about reuniting with Geoff on the jury?

It’s obviously sad that I’m reuniting with Geoff this way because I’ve just been voted out the game but could not be more happy seeing him and catching up with him on all the jury gossip!

The game continues, with seven survivors still in the game.  Who will get blindsided next…

Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets is screened on M-Net every Thursday at 19:00. It will also be available on DStv CatchUp. Fans can visit www.mnet.tv/survivorsa and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Mmaba Answers a Few Questions appeared first on Stage and Screen.

M-Net handpicked fascinating, multi-faceted personalities from a variety of professions and age groups who are not all they seem to be on the surface. It’s going to be a social experiment of note to observe how they manoeuvre through the conflicts that are bound to arise.

With the Game well underway now, you can click on the cast-away below for more information, as well as how they were voted out:

The post Survivor SA: The Cast-Aways appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Once South Africa’s first Bachelor has found “the one” on M-Net channel 101, the much-awaited new season of Survivor South Africa will roll into the channel’s popular Thursday night local productions slot at 19:00. Set in the beautiful Samoa, and spiced with all kinds of never-seen-before curveballs, twists and turns, Survivor SA: Island of Secrets will hit our screens on Thursday, 16 May.

While M-Net and Production Company Afrokaans remain tight-lipped about what exactly this mysterious Island of Secrets will reveal, they have lifted the lid a little on the castaways. This season, a diverse group of 21 strong-willed individuals who believe they know the ins and outs of the greatest game on earth will be facing the harsh elements of Mother Nature – and even harsher mind games of their tenacious opponents, who all want to be the Ultimate Survivor.

Soon, South Africa will get an unusual first glimpse of these contenders. Eight of the castaways from Survivor SA: Island of Secrets are already featuring on a variety of advertising billboards throughout the country.

M-Net handpicked fascinating, multi-faceted personalities from a variety of professions and age groups who are not all they seem to be on the surface. It’s going to be a social experiment of note to observe how they manoeuvre through the conflicts that are bound to arise.

The castaways on the billboards will be confirmed shortly, while the rest will be revealed closer to the first episode.

For the latest updates on Survivor SA: Island of Secrets, go to mnet.tv/survivorsa. You can also be part of the conversation on Twitter – especially if you spot some of the billboards – using #SurvivorSA.

The post Survivor SA: Islands of Secrets appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Despite rubbing almost every other Castaway up the wrong way at some stage during the course of this season, Adventure Camp Manager Tom Swartz still convinced the Survivor South Africa: Philippines Jury to award him the R1 Million prize money and title of Sole Survivor. The announcement was made during a gripping two-hour Survivor SA Finale on 16 August, which was broadcast live on M-Net 101, from Cape Town.

While he celebrated his win, M-Net brought viewers more good news: a Seventh South African season of the world’s greatest game has been confirmed. Entries, for this season to air in 2019, are open.  Click on the button below to enter!

[button color=”red” size=”big” link=”https://m-net.dstv.com/show/survivor-sa-philippines/enter%20season%207″ target=”blank” ]Enter Survivor South Africa: Islands of Secrets[/button]

Tom’s road to the Million:

Having broken his promise to not vote against Werner last week after Jeanne convinced him he didn’t stand a chance against the Pastor before the Jury, Tom knew that a victory in the final Individual Immunity Challenge this week would be crucial – not just because it would guarantee him a spot in the Final Two, but also because it would offer him an unprecedented advantage in changing the composition of the Jury by voting one of its members off, before making a case for the Million. It wasn’t to be, though, as he lost focus first during the mesmerizing final challenge and left Jeanne to claim the pivotal victory over Annalize when the latter faltered.

The result handed all the power to Jeanne, and as she sketched out possible voting scenarios in the sand back at the Araw beach, she made the call to take Tom along to the Final with her, likely betting that the run-ins he’d had with multiple members of the Jury would count in her favour when it came to their final vote. After voting to send Annalize to join the Jury, she picked off Werner for the second time in a week, voting him off the Jury and leaving the Final Two’s fate in their hands.

Having spent their 39th and final day on the remote island they’d come to think of as home, Jeanne and Tom put their case to the Jury at the Final Tribal Council, on the back of the three pillars of Survivor – ‘Outwit’, ‘Outlast’ and ‘Outplay’. The Jury didn’t give either of them an easy ride, probing Jeanne’s perceived lack of effort around camp and grilling Tom about the effects of his ‘Alpha Male’ behaviour throughout the game.

When host Nico Panagio opened the famous voting urn at the live finale in Cape Town, a visibly-relieved Tom was finally able to celebrate  after months of anxiously awaiting the result – one which also handed him other amazing prizes including an electronics hamper from sponsors Huawei and a Huawei P20 Pro.

The results of the online ‘Fan Favourite’ competition were also announced, with Claudette Harmse from Johannesburg winning a brand-new Mahindra XUV500 W8 Automatic worth nearly R400 000. It wouldn’t be Survivor South Africa without a final twist – and the show duly delivered, with Fan Favourite winner, Werner ‘The Don’ winning a Mahindra KUV100 NXT worth in excess of R150 000.

Fans who want to learn more about the ins and outs of the most compelling season of Survivor SA yet, should make a note to catch the fun-filled YouTube episode of Live After: Survivor South Africa on the DStv Online YouTube page, where winner Tom and a selection of other Castaways from this season will be in conversation with host Phil Mphela at 18:05 this Sunday (19 August), directly after the repeat of Survivor SA airs on M-Net 101. Want to ask one of the Castaways a burning question? Tweet using #LiveAfter and @survivor_sa and Phil could have it answered on your behalf in the ‘Ask Me Anything’ segment of the show.

Survivor South Africa: Philippines is also streamed live on DStv Now and is available on DStv Catch Up within 24 hours of the live show. You can also catch the repeat of the two-hour Final on Sunday 19 August at 17:00 on M-Net Channel 101.

Survivor SA is powered by the Huawei P20 Pro and is produced by Afrokaans Film & Television.

The post Tom Wins Survivor SA as Entries for Season 7 Opens appeared first on Stage and Screen.