Survivor SA: Tom Outwits, Outplays and Outlasts

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 tonight’s gripping two-hour Survivor SA Finale (16 August), 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 are open via www.mnet.tv/survivorsa, with the show set to air in 2019.
 
So, how did Tom make it all the way to the top?
 
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 #SurvivorSA 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 16:00 on M-Net Channel 101.
 
Survivor SA is powered by the Huawei P20 Pro and is produced by Afrokaans Film & Television.