Anti-poaching unit member wins‘survivor SA’
A FORMER anti-poaching worker from the Eastern Cape surprised thousands of viewers this week when he won the hit reality series Survivor South Africa.
On Thursday, Tom Swartz, 41, was named at the live finale in Cape Town when host Nico Panagio read out the votes – he received six out of the seven cast by the jury. With R1 million in his pocket, Swartz said he is still finding it hard to believe he won.
Swartz told Weekend Argus that working in an abalone anti-poaching unit for nearly five years up to 2016, prepared him for Survivor.
“Conservation has always been part of my heart. I grew up along the shores of the Eastern Cape – the ocean is something I hold in high regard. I have been a scuba diving instructor for many years and the opportunity came up where they needed a dive instructor who also had a bit of guts and I was offered the position and in a heartbeat I took it.”
He was initially based in East London and then later moved to Port Elizabeth to open their anti-poaching unit.
During that time, he had a number of injuries. “The first was breaking my hand in a boxing match with a poacher, then I was sliced on my arm, and the last straw was when I was run over by a bakkie.”
He said a poacher reversed over him while trying to get away.
Being a diver played in his favour as he was one of the main providers for his tribe.
“As for the anti-poaching, that assisted me in having a bit of guts and being able to stand up for myself.”
He said it was easy for his body to adapt to the island life as while working for the anti-poaching unit he was often exposed to the elements.
However, after returning home from filming Survivor, Swartz said he found it extremely difficult to adjust to not living on the island.
“The transition between island and home took me probably the best part of three to four weeks. It was strange lying in bed. When I got home I slept on the floor for a few nights and sort of had an afternoon nap on the bed every now and again until I got accustomed to it. The other thing I really enjoyed was showering and knowing that the fridge was only a few steps away.”
Watching the season unfold on TV was interesting, especially hearing what some of his tribe mates said about him when he was out of earshot.
“It was horrible. It was the worst thing to actually hear what someone thinks of you.”
He said what people saw on TV is the way he is in his daily life. Swartz prides himself on being a man of his word and integrity. However, he had to break his promise to one of his closest allies and biggest competitor Werner Joubert.
“It was the right move at the right time, however it was an extremely difficult one to live with for a while.”
He will use the R1m to pay off his family home.