Most unlikely winner

SURVIVOR SA: PHILIPPINES: CONSERVATIONIST TOM SWARTZ TRIUMPHS

Runner-up is Cape radio producer Jeanne Michel.

Tom Swartz, East London-born former manager of an anti-poaching unit based in Port Elizabeth, proved to be the ultimate survivor on MNet’s Survivor SA: Philippines reality show on Thursday at the finale in Cape Town.

Swartz, who got up all the contestants’ noses at one time or another with his alpha male behaviour made it to the top, alongside two-time lucky coattail-rider Jeanne Michel.

Having pleaded his case in front of the jury made up of former tribe members, Swartz said he had played the game as fairly, loyally and justly as he could, despite the curve balls thrown at him.

Swartz was first introduced to fans of the show as a member of the Visayas tribe.

He made a strong alliance with Chane Mynhard. This came in handy later as she was one of the six who voted in his favour. Swartz said he hoped his fans and people from his hometown got to see how it’s never over and that even when you face the toughest of challenges, the power is in you to win. Runner-up and Cape Town radio producer Michel described herself as the underdog that no one saw coming: “I’m the one you didn’t expect to win, but I’m here.” 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.

Aside from the R1 million prize money, he also won other prizes including an electronics hamper from sponsors Huawei and a Huawei P20 Pro.

The results of the online Fan Favourite competition were also announced.

Claudette Harmse from Johannesburg won a brand new Mahindra XUV500 W8 worth nearly R400 000.

Werner “The Don” won a Mahindra KUV100 NXT worth in excess of R150 000.

I’m the one you didn’t expect to win, but I’m here.