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I can bring you the VERY FIRST independent exit interview with Survivor SA Santa Carolina celebitant Gys de Villiers who became the next one voted off the island in episode ten tonight earlier tonight on M-Net. At least he won the car.
In a revealing interview he spoke with me about how it became difficult to be a backstabber - and how he saw both connivers and those who just couldn't do it - on the island. Find out why he told me that he didn't think that he played the game very well, and what he learned about human nature and from his island experience in general.
For my full interview with Gys de Villiers, click on READ MORE below.
You spoke toe most Afrikaans out of all the contestants. Was it difficult to keep to English the whole time?
Man, I didn't really speak the most Afrikaans. I think Hannah spoke more Afrikaans than what I did, but I stayed on for longer than what she did. No, it wasn't more difficult to speak English, I'm married to an English woman.
Do you think the Afrikaans contestants clicked quicker with each other because of a shared language?
No, not really because of that. We were a lot of Afrikaans contestants in Chibudu. As a tribe we dropped fast in the number of members. We were suddenly five. So, as a tribe we bonded much quicker and not really because of a specific language grouping. Although I have to add that it's easier to speak to someone in your mother tongue. But it was never a choice between English or Afrikaans.
You looked very at home in the wildernis. Are you used to camping and roughing it?
Yes. I have to say that Survivor SA was right up my alley. I was in my element there. I live my whole life as if I'm on Survivor. I'm always making little plans around the home to make things easier for me and my wife. I like camping. My dad always took us as children to go and camp and ski at Loskopdam so we grew up camping. For me, I have to say, in retrospect I didn't play the game very well, because I enjoyed it so much being in the wildernis and just trying to survive and making plans. So much so that the game of the game, the conniving bit – I didn't do it so well. My whole family is laughing at me and telling me that I actually went to go and have a holiday on the island.
Who did you like the most?
Okkert Brits and I clicked very well. I have a lot of respect for that guy. I have a lot of respect for him, and I think he for me as well. We were both work horses. I think our main goal was just to survive from day to day. We did it through hard work and that built respect for each other and we bonded. At night, we also kept the fire going. So you slept a bit, woke up, got up and kept the fire going and made turns. We had long and comfortable and deep talks. I liked everyone but Okkert Brits is definitely the one I clicked with the most.
And who irritated you?
Oh man, like I told you there wasn't anyone who I didn't like. I liked everyone. In the back of your head you know it's a game. They also call it a social experiment. Right from the beginning you know that they are going to choose people who are rubbing each other the wrong way. So if there's folk not pulling their weight, or people rubbing each other the wrong way . . . I tried to keep myself out of all of that stuff and to not get swept up in all of that. I didn't allow myself to get worked up about it all. I did a lot of brain teasers – exercises designed to let your mind and body work together to help you think logically. I can't really say that there was a single person there that I hated or didn't get along with. Everyone is a person and I'm sure there were people who didn't like me.
Well, everyone I've spoken to so far have you on the list as someone that they liked a lot, so I guess that counts for something.
What was the most difficult from the whole experience?
The most difficult was the backstabbing and seeing that through to the end. When we merged it really started to get difficult to me. Just before the merge I was taken over to the other tribe as part of a prize – on my own. That was difficult for me because we've grown to become such a strong unit in Chibudu. Suddenly I was in Timbila, all on my own. Very difficult. I felt so alone there. From that point onwards things started to get ugly. When it became time to save your own hide, it became difficult.
And what did you enjoy the most?
The fact that, for 27 days, you could switch off your phone, that nobody could reach you and that you could just focus on survival, to get food, to prepare food and to survive. And it was wonderful for me to take part in Survivor SA in these massive challenges. I always say it's like you're playing inside a giant pin ball machine and running around inside of it. All of these big toys and play things, rope climbing and giant balls in the water – I enjoyed it tremendously doing these various challenges. Although I was the oldest contestant it didn't keep me back at all. I'm very proud of myself that I could hold my own in all of these games.
Gys and did you think you were next being voted out?
Yes. I did. From the moment of the merge I realized that the other tribe is going to pick us off one by one from the strongest who's Okkert Brits. It's because during the merge we had to say who's the strongest. It was Okkert Brits, then Louw Venter, Izak Davel and me third on the list. It became clear that my head was definitely on the chopping block. After Okkert Brits got voted out, I definitely felt now they're going to be looking to me. Then Izak Davel threw a curveball by helping to get rid of Louw Venter with his swing vote. Then I felt: ''Now it's me'' and that I'm next on the chopping block. It made me a bit reckless. I took Proverb on for working so little and that also meant that I was making the target on my back bigger.
How did you feel about getting voted out but at least still winning the car?
I just want to thank Volvo who sponsored the car for the challenge! I won the car and I feel fantastic and honoured and privileged and blessed! I had to suffer a bit to get the car but I worked really, really hard for it. I feel as if I was rewarded for my suffering. I know the guy who usually wins the car in Survivor gets voted out and yes, it happened to me as well. But at least I didn't go home empty handed. I feel incredibly blessed that I could play in Survivor SA and also that I could win the car.
Who do you think will still make it far in the game?
I think the person who could make it to the end could definitely be Ashley Hayden and Kaseran Pillay. They are playing a good game for me. I saw them walking on the beach together – just the two of them. Then they stopped, and suddenly hugged and then it seemed to me as if they made a pact, so I think those two. Ashley Hayden is playing great and Kaseran Pillay is playing great as well. He's really a cool dude and doing his thing.
What did you learn about human nature?
I discovered how our souls and our spirit is willing to fight for survival at all cost. And how quickly you become a tight unit and a tribe when there is trouble and united hardship. I've experienced the wonder of when we arrived as Chibudu, to make plans together to survive. Then, I also saw how some people can be backstabbers - and how others simply cannot do it – how it's just simply not in their nature to be like that.
What did you learn in general out of the experience?
In general I've learned that our drive to survive is very strong. I've learned that people can handle a lot more than what we think, and that you have to trust yourself that you have a lot more energy and power and tenacity to push through and survive when times are tough.
Survivor SA Santa Carolina, Wednesdays, M-Net, 19:30
