E Cape duo battle it out
Two women with very different approaches to how they plan to win R1m in season eight’s ‘Immunity Island’, speak to Barbara Hollands
For the first time in Survivor SA’s history, the nail-biting reality show was filmed in the country — on the Wild Coast. Originally destined to be shot in an exotic location, filming of the eighth season was delayed due to the global Covid-19 pandemic and was finally shot in a “bubble”, amid strict safety protocols, in the last two months of 2020.
THORISO M-AFRIKA
With her strategy of keeping a low and unthreatening profile, Eastern Cape marketing manager Thoriso M-Afrika, 36, is a selfconfessed creature of comfort.
She was schooled at Collegiate Junior in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Victoria Girls High in Makhanda (Grahamstown) and Nelson Mandela University.
She also lived in Qonce (King William’s Town) and Komani (Queenstown) before moving to Kariega (Uitenhage) in 2020, where she is the marketing manager for Muir College Boys’ High School. She has a young son.
What prompted you to apply to be a castaway?
I am insane. I’ve always found the way castaways interact with each other so fascinating and am curious about how I would handle myself in the setting.
Are you a Survivor fan? If so, which past castaway is your role model?
I have watched enough Survivor to consider myself a fan. [American two-time Survivor winner] Sandra Diaz-Twine was authentic and was prepared to do what needed to win. She was so good she did it twice. [Four-time American Survivor player] Cirie Fields is probably the best player to never win — touch wood. She had an extraordinary reading of the game and people. She knew what to say to people to get them to do what she wanted.
How important is it for you to win this show? What would you do with R1m?
It’s the only reason I’m on the show. Why else would I expose myself to the elements without the lure of the pot of gold? Bizarre. I will settle my bond with the money.
When you heard you would be shooting on the Wild Coast did you feel you would have an advantage because you are familiar with this part of the world? Also, were you proud that the first Survivor to be filmed in SA was in the Eastern Cape?
I was hoping to go to Fiji but ended up in the best country in the world! However, if we were meant to shoot locally it would have to be in the Eastern Cape. Apart from being the best province, I secretly hoped it would bode well for me as a local.
Your bio says you live in your own world.
How will you deal with this on Survivor?
I’m hoping the implication will be that everyone will come to the conclusion that I am not playing the game; that they won’t understand how on earth I made it onto the show and want to take me to the end because they’d perceive me as an easy person to beat.
What do you think will be the biggest struggle you have to face?
My biggest struggle will be keeping my mouth shut and keeping my emotions in check. I am so used to speaking my mind that it can come off as cold.
What is your strategy?
I want to make one-on-one connections and get into people’s hearts that way.
Are you nervous about watching the show? Where will you be watching and with who? My colleagues are hosting a watch party for my friends and family for the premiere in the school hall. I’m hoping I don’t get voted out first — touch wood. From then we will probably go to a friend’s house [to watch].
Would you do Survivor again?
Without a doubt! It’s so addictive.
How do you think you will deal with hunger on the show?
That’s the least of my worries. I have enough fat reserves to sustain me for 39 days.
Are you afraid of encountering snakes and sharks on the Wild Coast?
I’m not afraid of the wildlife because I plan to go nowhere near it.
Are you any good at fishing or foraging for food? Have you done it before?
I wouldn’t be caught dead camping because I am naturally a creature of comfort. I would probably die if I had to do something like this on my own.
Have you thought about how you will deal with alliances and the kind of people you will want in your alliance?
I want to be in an alliance with people who believe they are doing me a favour by keeping me around. That way they can never see me coming.
NOLEEN ‘PINTY’ NKANJENI
Butterworth-born Nkanjeni went to school in Qonce (King William’s Town), Hogsback and at East London’s Lilyfontein School.
She was an apprentice junior horticulturist in Hogsback and now lives in Cape Town where she co-runs a creative hub called La Maison.
She lives with her doctor partner, two cats and a dog.
Q: What prompted you to apply to be a castaway?
A: Apart from watching Survivor from a very young age and being a huge fan of the show, I’ve always aspired to enter. Having a knack for the outdoors and every sport or activity, my friends have always made jokes about how good I would be on the show and how entertaining I’d be to watch on TV. After watching Season 7, my partner reignited the idea of me entering for the show.
Which former castaway is your role model? My number one past castaway would have to be Vanessa Marawa. I was about 15 years old when she won the first season of Survivor South Africa, and as a black woman she was an inspiration and a meaningful representation of my culture.
How important is it for you to win this show and what would you do with R1m?
The opportunity to play in the world’s best social experiment of all time is already a win for me! If I were to win I would donate some of my winnings to organisations which uplift youth from disadvantaged backgrounds with education and practical skills development. I would also like to support an environmental/marine conservation organisation, and of course take my mom on an epic holiday.
When you heard you would be shooting on the Wild Coast, did you feel you would have an advantage because you are familiar with the area?
I think Covid-19 took the whole world by surprise. I think delaying filming was a responsible decision by the producers. When I found out that we would be shooting on home soil, and especially in my province, I felt super proud and excited. I found it very special to be one of the first Survivors to shoot on home soil. I definitely feel like it will be an advantage for me to play on familiar turf. I once did a 12-day walk with two friends along the Wild Coast and we had just the bare necessities. We didn’t have a tent, were limited to four items of clothing and had no loo paper. Reminiscent of Survivor but without a million rand at stake!
Your bio says you are a Janet of all trades? Which ones and how will they help you?
I am very practical and love working with my hands. I spent three months in the north of Italy in 2016 rebuilding an old heritage house with one other guy who was the local costruttore. Some of the work we did included carpentry, cement work and constructing stone walls. I think that any DIY knowledge will benefit me in the game. My experience in agriculture, hospitality and as a divemaster will help me in playing an outdoors, people-centred game like Survivor.
What do you think will be the biggest struggle you have to face?
I would imagine my biggest struggle would be lack of good sleep.
What is your strategy?
My strategy to find the immunity idol ASAP! Then become someone who can hold a leadership role, bring humour to the camp, keep order when things start to go south and be a shoulder for everyone to depend on. I also think I am well placed to act as the mediator in tribe member disputes.
Are you nervous about watching the show? I’m not nervous about watching, I’m proud and excited to see myself on the screen. I will probably watch with my loved ones at home.
Would you do Survivor again?
In a heartbeat!
How do you think you will deal with hunger? I’m not much of a big eater so I think I might be OK. But I guess it will be different experiencing a consistent lack of food and access to it.
Are you afraid of encountering snakes and sharks on the Wild Coast?
As long as a snake doesn’t surprise me then I am cool. Snakes, sharks, spiders and sandflies are all part of the package. I am a visitor in their territory and know how important it is to respect them at all times. Are you any good at fishing or foraging for food?
I love fishing and foraging. Because of my agricultural background I have quite a bit of knowledge of edible wild plants. Having been fortunate enough to grow up in Hogsback afforded me quite a bit of knowledge about survival techniques. What kind of people will you want in your alliance?
I hope I will have an alliance with likeminded players who value honour and are in it for the long game.