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Survivor South Africa is set to return to South African TV screens on M-Net for another season with Nico Panagio as host and two teams divided under either rugby player Corne Krige or soccer player Mark Fish as tribe captains.
The pay-TV broadcaster made the announcement on social media to journalists just before the lunch hour in a closed Facebook group after dropping hints and teaser questions since Thursday morning.
Always coy regarding contestants, M-Net teased that two South African sporting stars are included in the new crop of contestants before revealing that it will be Corne Krige and Mark Fish who will be heading up two tribes in Survivor South Africa: Champions. In a new twist, Corne Krige and Mark Fish won't be voted off.
Survivor South Africa: Champions will be filmed towards the end of 2013 at an as yet undisclosed location and will be done by the Endemol South Africa production company.
South African citizens older than 18 will be able to enter from the beginning of July for a possible place on Survivor South Africa: Champions to endure "the harshest of circumstances".
"Mark and Corne are both highly competitive and physically strong but have different personalities," says Pierre Cloete, M-Net director for general entertainment channels. "It will be fascinating to see how these tribe captains strategise to get their team ahead and how they deal with the multiple challenges on the island."
Sivan Pillay, the managing director of Endemol South Africa promises "many surprises" in the new season.
"Pitting two champions with the gravitas of Mark and Corne against each other opens up plenty of opportunities for curveballs and additional pressure on the contestants."
Mark Fish says he wants to be surrounded by individuals who "will showcase their individual qualities that will help the team progress".
Corne Krige says he likes "tribe members who are tough when the tough gets going and have a fighting spirit".
