The Bachelor SA star Marc Buckner: Please pray for my mom.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Bachelor SA star Marc Buckner is asking people to please pray for his mom, Jenny Buckner, who is ill but stable in hospital.

The Cape Town-based model, influencer and investor said that his mom needs as much support as possible but didn't specify what is wrong. 

He referenced ventilators and said that he could never have imagined that his mom, also living in Cape Town, would get to that situation.

His mom made an appearance during the second season of The Bachelor SA on M-Net (DStv 101) when she met the final two women, Marisia van Wyk and Bridget Marshall, and also cooked with her son where she shared her opinion of the various women with him. 

On Friday in another message Marc Buckner wrote: "Thank you to everyone for all of your support, sorry for not being online much & I have not responded to many messages yet but I really & truly appreciate the many kind comments."

"This has opened my eyes in many ways & I feel even more for all that have or are going through this. My mom is stable at the moment & I am praying for more signs of healing."

While South Africa has exited a third wave of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, there are fears of a possible fourth Covid wave hitting the country in December this year. 

The South African government and the medical fraternity is imploring people to please get a Covid-19 vaccination and to prevent infection, death and hospitalisation from the disease.

ALSO READ: INTERVIEW. The most important woman of The Bachelor SA on M-Net speaks: Marc Buckner’s mom Jenny on her son, his passions and trekking with him through the jungles of Thailand.

Marc Buckner chooses shy Marisia, slips a 'forever baby girl'-engraved ring on her finger in the second season finale of The Bachelor SA as M-Net makes South African television history with a virtual video post-show press briefing.

by Thinus Ferreira

In a fairytale ending perfect for television, Marc Buckner (36) said no to Bridget Marshall and yes to the 24-year old shy speech therapist Marisia van Wyk as the Cape Town-based bachelor took out a beautiful Jack Friedman ring, slipped it on her finger and told her that "I don't want this journey to end with you" in the highly-anticipated second season finale of The Bachelor South Africa that was broadcast Thursday evening on M-Net (DStv 101).

"I think we make a great couple. And I don't want this journey to end with you," said Marc Buckner as a more whimsical version of the show's theme song "Different Feeling" by Daniel Baron swelled and he took out a ring that that on the inside has the inscription "Stronger together, forever, baby girl".

"I really am falling for you," said Marc Buckner, "and, uhm, I want to ask if you will accept this as a symbol of a relationship that I think is so amazing, and I would like it to keep going forward."

Marisia van Wyk said "Wow, I don't have words. I think I came onto this journey and, uhm, it's been tough. It's been tough. I've really fallen for you. And I don't know. There's just something with you that I've never felt with anyone before, which is good for me".

"I know there's this age gap but it doesn't really mean anything to me because I think my feelings for you mean so much more. So I just want to focus on that and focus on us, and then hopefully grow together."

Marc said "That's exactly how I feel. None of that stuff bothers me because I know you are so mature" and "I can't believe all of this has led to us. And it's ..."

The Bachelor SA second season finale on M-Net, produced by Rapid Blue as a local adaptation of the Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) format, stood in contrast to the first season that ended in romantic failure.

This time The Bachelor South Africa gave DStv subscribers exactly what they wanted: A beautifully-filmed and happily-in-love ever-after conclusion at the magical Kapama Game Resort for viewers who kept tuning in week after week to the buzz-making show that besides linear viewing has a big audience on MultiChoice's DStv Now Catch Up streaming service and punched far above its weight in weekly social media buzz.

With the content and structure of the broadcast of the second season finale which had to be adjusted because of the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic - and the resulting lockdown also affecting South Africa and the country's entire TV and film industry - M-Net forged ahead and marked another South African television milestone.

With The Bachelor SA M-Net became the first South African TV channel in the country's television history to hold a virtual viewing party for the country's national media, followed by the first and completely online and interactive, post-show press conference ever done for a local South African TV production.

Besides media, M-Net's large Thursday night video press conference for The Bachelor South Africa included all the top M-Net programming, scheduling and content executives including Jan du Plessis (M-Net channels director), Kaye Ann Williams (M-Net senior manager for commissioned content), Terja Beney (commissioning editor) and Tracy-Ann Van Rooyen (M-Net senior manager for content acquisition and scheduling).

Also included in the Zoom media get-together were The Bachelor SA's Rapid Blue executive producers Kee-Leen Irvine and Donald Clarke, as well as The Bachelor SA series director Nick Archer.

In The Bachelor SA finale Marc Buckner and Marisia van Wyk revealed that they've been living together during lockdown in South Africa - a secret they've been successfully keeping for a while, and that they've also taken a "secret" trip to Thailand.

Bridget: "I wanted to run away and go cry'
Later in the episode, M-Net broadcast The Bachelor South Africa host Jason Greer's pre-recorded video calls with some of the women.

After this M-Net also placed a The Bachelor SA Pyjama Afterparty reunion show on the M-Net website where it can be viewed indefinitely, and that replaced the Women Tell All broadcast hour that usually precedes the finale.

After Marc told Bridget Marshall that "our journey must end here" - the segment of the final two women that was filmed first - Bridget said during the finale broadcast that "I think I just went into shock. All I wanted to do was turn around and run away and go cry".

"You go along this journey in front of mostly the whole of South Africa and then you get to that point and you get your heart broken in front of thousands of people watching you. It's just - you freeze."

"Being the girl who didn't walk away with Marc, it's upsetting. You want that closure," said Bridget Marshall later in the episode when she and Marc appeared in a video-call in a segment together with Jason Greer asking the questions.

Marc said that "I'm exceptionally happy with choosing Marisia. I don't know how it would have been choosing you, Bridget because I think that you are also an amazing person."

"At the end of the day I need to make a decision and I have to go with - even though we've done so much together and we've spent a fair bit of time together, I only have that to go with. I just thought that maybe Marisia and I are more compatible."

"I did cry a lot," said Bridget. "It's only natural and normal for me to be upset about the situation."

"I've had the time to kind of heal and move on and I'm in a good place and I'm happy and I'm happy for them. I love both of them and I'm not angry. I don't want to fight with him because  - I don't hate you Marc."

Marc said that "this whole thing is much more difficult than anyone realises and it's more difficult than any of us knew going into it. And the further into it you get - like Bridget and I, Marisia and I - we were there until the end."

"It's stressful because one, you don't want to make the wrong choice; no-one ever knows what the right choice is - it's just a different outcome. And I don't want to hurt Marisia and I don't want to hurt Bridget."

Bridget said that she was still single - "it's lockdown Jason".

Marc and Marisia living together after Thailand tour
"We have kind of fast-tracked a few things now that we're living together, due to lockdown," said Marc later in another segment done from his Cape Town home with Marisia.

When Jason Greer asked about the ring, Marc said "just seeing her with it and the way that she lit up with it, and then there's a little inscription inside by the way - it says stronger together, forever, baby girl".

"We both thought it would be a great idea to move in together during lockdown because when you're not seeing each other  - it's the beginning of a relationship, it's hard to build that trust, and to have that trust going without knowing that that person's there."

"With any relationship at the beginning, you spend as much time as possible together."

About their secret Thailand trip Marc said that he and Marisia are "good travel buddies. We like similar things. It's more about the experience than fancy things - just exploring as much as possible. We never really sat at the hotel and did nothing."

Marisia said "We've grown as individuals, but also together and for me that's such an important thing - not only growing together but also encouraging each other to grow as individuals".

"That's why I hold onto this relationship. I really want this and I want to fight for this and I would go to the end of the world for this to work out because I do feel like my heart is really here and I do not want to be anywhere else."


ALSO READ: MultiChoice marks another big South African television first as M-Net becomes the country's first TV channel to do an entirely online media screening and press conference for a local show as the second season of The Bachelor SA ends.
ALSO READ: From ladies living in lockdown to Zoom etiquette tutorials: The behind-the-scenes secrets of putting this week's second season finale of The Bachelor SA on M-Net together.
ALSO READ: Season 2 of The Bachelor SA on M-Net to end with unique remote video conclusion followed by a special M-Net online pyjama reunion episode.

From ladies living in lockdown to Zoom etiquette tutorials: The behind-the-scenes secrets of putting this week's second season finale of The Bachelor SA on M-Net together.

by Thinus Ferreira

The arrival of lockdown because of Covid-19 abruptly altered the originally planned, key light bright second season finale of The Bachelor South Africa that had been slotted into the M-Net (DStv 101) schedule months ago already and that will now be broadcast this coming Thursday evening at 19:00.

The Rapid Blue production team - working on a hopefully happy ending for the second season of the local adaptation of the Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) format - had to adapt and change the gameplan in putting Thursday's upcoming finale on M-Net together.

Some of the challenges ranged from having to deal with the ladies stuck in place because of lockdown across South Africa and Namibia, making it impossible to get them all back for a "Women Tell All" studio-seated reunion.

The show also had to help them to suddenly find their way through do-it-yourself video set-ups, providing them with Zoom "finishing school" masterclasses.

Then there was also the race against time to get equipment to locations, while trying to direct and edit a fitting finale without making it come across as a low-resolution clip show filled with webcam content.

On Thursday evening viewers will be able to tune in for the second season finale of The Bachelor SA as an hourlong "lockdown episode" on M-Net.

The usual preceding "Women Tell All" hourlong episode that was originally planned has been removed from the M-Net broadcast schedule by the pay-TV channel's execs - likely done to help lessen local production pressure on the show because of Covid-19 - and has been replaced with a The Bachelor SA Pyjama Afterparty reunion webisode.

This will roll out on the M-Net website on Thursday night right after the linear televised finale is broadcast on the M-Net channel on DStv.

The Bachelor SA Pyjama Afterparty online webcast will feature short clips that viewers can tune in to at their leisure. It will be embedded on the M-Net website as a special event to view indefinitely.

Meanwhile, the televised The Bachelor SA finale will combine the last of the footage that the love finding show filmed pre-corona in late-2019 including bachelor Marc Bucker's choice (if he makes one), new Zoom call footage with some of the women, and a look at what happened "after the final rose".

With a limitation on travel in cities, no domestic flights, and an ongoing ban regarding travel across provinces still in effect in South Africa - combined with strict social distancing rules - it is impossible to reveal, even if it was known, whether Marc will appear in-person in any post-Covid-19 scenes with either or both the speech therapist Marisia, or the extrovert Bridget who have been the last two women left.

M-Net is only willing to confirm that "Marc will be speaking to the final two ladies in some way or another while being in lockdown at his home".

Zhooshing up for Zoom
In terms of the production challenges around prepping and recording Thursday's finale, M-Net tells TVwithThinus that "Marc and all the various ladies have remained in lockdown at home or with loved ones".

"Andeline, for example, went to her family in Namibia just before lockdown had started and some of the ladies, who found love after not receiving a rose on the show, found new love and are spending lockdown with their new beaus," says M-Net.

 "A special shout out as well to soldier Tamryn from Pretoria who has been working keeping South Africans safe."

Asked about challenges the production says that doing The Bachelor SA finale in the time of Covid-19 presented a couple of challenges since it was completely new territory.

"Some of the challenges included communicating with the various ladies and obtaining various responses timeously, establishing their data connection speeds and access to technological equipment, and delivering relevant equipment within lockdown protocol where necessary."

Then, the women who are video-calling in, now have to do their own hair and make-up, and styling.

Of course video conference call etiquette classes is something that has suddenly become a much-needed requirement for reality TV stars when they are filmed remotely from their homes.

There are no floor managers and production assistants who can rush in from the off-camera side-closet or who can peek out from behind the bookshelf to make adjustments to webcam heights or to try and improve audio feeds.

Neither are there make-up artists who can quickly rush on-set to do powder touch-ups during ad breaks.

It was necessary to do some training for the women "on how best to present themselves during a Zoom interview and being cognisant of backgrounds, camera positions and posture," says the show.

"The most difficult part was putting together a high-quality production that allowed the ladies to be part of the show given the challenges of lockdown," says M-Net.

Host Jason Greer filmed the final interviews in-studio with the correct Covid-19 health and safety protocols that were followed and permits in place, with M-Net that says that the look and feel of the studio for the second season finale is on par with The Bachelor SA brand identity. "We believe that viewers will really enjoy this unique finale".


ALSO READ: Season 2 of The Bachelor SA to end with unique remote video conclusion followed by a special M-Net online pyjama reunion episode.

Season 2 of The Bachelor SA to end with unique remote video conclusion followed by a special M-Net online pyjama reunion episode.

by Thinus Ferreira

The second season "Women Tell All" episode and finale of The Bachelor South Africa on M-Net (DStv 101) will take the form of a world-first, uniquely done remote video ending, followed by a "Pyjama Afterparty" online streaming webisode but won't include all of the women.

On Thursday evening the second season finale of The Bachelor SA - where Marc Buckner may or may not choose a woman to get engaged to and produced by Rapid Blue - will come to an end but due to the Covid-19 national lockdown period the in-studio done "tell-all" episode as a reunion with all of the women, and the live-to-tape studio recording of the finale had to be reconceived.

It will now play out as a remote-filmed ending, followed by an online reunion episode that will be shown on M-Net's website.

On Thursday evening viewers will find out whether Marc Buckner has chosen the shy speech therapist Marisia, or the extrovert Bridget in the second South African end of the popular local adaptation of the Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) format.

Will Marc go down on a bended knee to propose after the first season of The Bachelor SA ended with all love lost?

"To keep our cast and crew safe and adhere to lockdown restrictions around travel and social gatherings, we had to turn to technology to bring back the ladies and ensure a fitting finale to a riveting season," says Lani Lombard, M-Net's head of publicity.

This will result in a 60-minute lockdown episode on Thursday that will integrate - as a world-first for the format - the last day at Kapama with Zoom calls during which some of the ladies share their thoughts about life in the mansion, Marc, and the love journeys of Bridget and Marisia.

At the end of the episode, The Bachelor SA viewers will also see what happened "after the final rose".

After the end credits roll on Thursday, viewers will be invited to the a unique and quirky The Bachelor SA Pyjama Afterparty on the M-Net website.

This is where the ladies will get the opportunity to grill Marc about his decisions and their departures, and clear the air around some of the drama in the mansion.

This online webisode will include Zoom group calls, as well as individual video sessions from the women's homes. Viewers will get to see how lockdown has been treating them and if they have perhaps found another love interest after leaving the show.

Some of the clips that will feature during The Bachelor SA Pyjama Afterparty on Thursday 28 May will include Bridget, Nolo, Pasha and Andeline (talking about their relationships in the mansion), Qiniso, Daniella, Silke, and Stefanie (sharing some behind-the-scenes moments not seen on screen), and Marc (answers questions from Gillian, Rikki, Pasha, Jess C, Andeline, and Silke).

Also included are host Jason Greer and Marc getting real as they reflect on the season and find out whether Marc would change anything. Xia, Greta, Pi, Tamryn, Michaela, Mulesa and Parushka will share where they are now and reflect on their experiences from this season.

Then some of the women and Marc will respond to some spicy social media commentary they've received from viewers.

ALSO READ: From ladies living in lockdown to Zoom etiquette tutorials: The behind-the-scenes secrets of putting this week's second season finale of The Bachelor SA on M-Net together.

INTERVIEW. The most important woman of The Bachelor SA on M-Net speaks: Marc Buckner’s mom Jenny on her son, his passions and trekking with him through the jungles of Thailand.

by Thinus Ferreira

Besides the beautiful women in the show, there’s another extremely important woman in the life of Marc Buckner, the hunky bachelor of the second season of The Bachelor South Africa on M-Net: His mom, Jenny.

With the remaining two women who will now get the opportunity to meet Marc’s parents in the penultimate episode, we asked Jenny about her well-travelled son – someone she probably knows better than anyone else – about what Marc’s looking for, how her son was growing up, and what she thought when he wanted to become The bachelor in the show.

What did you think of Marc's willingness to become the bachelor and try and find love in a TV show like The Bachelor SA?
Jenny: Initially I was very apprehensive.
One has to be extremely brave to put yourself out there and to put your life out there. But after giving it much thought, I thought, maybe, who knows?  Maybe this is Marc's opportunity to find the woman of his dreams.
So his dad and I both eventually sat down and said well, this is Marc's journey, this is Marc's decision and we will support him and whoever he chooses - if he chooses someone.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marc Buckner (@marcbuckner) on May 14, 2020 at 10:44am PDT

What are the things that Marc is looking for in someone to love?
Jenny: Someone sharing the same interests.
He would like someone to travel with and also somebody who's true to themselves because Marc is very true to himself. And a happy, trusting person and mature.

What do you think helped with Marc's maturity - all the travelling or what did you instil in him as a parent?
Jenny: Marc has been mature for his age from a very young age.
He's spent so many years overseas but would be back for every family commitment because Marc's very family-orientated as well. But he has travelled the world extensively since he was very young and I think that contributes to that.
He's had a very good role model in his grandfather as well. He's very similar to his late grandfather as well, they both had a love and passion for property, for investing, for building. They used to sit for hours on the phone chatting about things and just in general about life.

He's your only child right. Can you talk a bit about how he was as a boy?
Jenny: Intelligent. Witty. He would spend most of his childhood years either in water or in the mountains - always with animals. He's a huge animal lover, the whole family is.
And growing up as a teenager I think he came more into himself, and in connection with dating [she laughs] I think he left that till quite late in life. He was too busy exploring and climbing mountains!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marc Buckner (@marcbuckner) on Feb 19, 2020 at 9:07am PST

At what age did the male modelling work come about and how were you involved as a mother and guardian? How did it start and what advice did you give him and what did you think when he entered that industry?
Jenny: He started off with the modelling when he was very young - I think he was about 17 as he also did travelling. Then again, we gave him all the support that we could. It was a wonderful opportunity with all of the destinations that he was able to travel to. And of course anything Marc made financially, went straight into investing. Marc has been like that since he was about 12 years of age. We gave him all the support we could because he's an individual and if that's his choice we must support him.

What is Marc's best characteristic and what does Marc do that you don't like at all?
Jenny: His best I would say is that he is true to himself and he has been like that all his life.
 If there is something Marc does not agree on that goes against his grain he will stand his ground. That for me is the most fantastic quality that he has.
He will tell you himself that something that irritates me is that Marc is so spontaneous.
If he wants to do something - I think you know I've travelled with him - I've experienced travelling through the jungles of Thailand with Marc, and he will just say to me "okay, we're going to do this", "can't you do that?" and "don't worry, I'm there to support you I will never let anything happen to you" and he's just extremely spontaneous and sometimes that does scare me a little bit. [laughs]

Did you give him any advice before The Bachelor SA started about women and the process of dating on TV?
Jenny: No, never, never. I've never interfered in any of Marc's relationships. I believe Marc knows exactly where he's going, he's an adult.

With what has your son surprised you the most so far in his life?
Jenny: The way he has turned out the way he has. Such an awesome, wonderful human being who I am very, very proud of.

The Bachelor SA II is on Thursdays on M-Net (DStv 101) at 19:00

Coronavirus: South Africa's transport minister Fikile Mbalula lays charge against reality TV star Somizi Mhlongo for allegedly spreading Covid-19 fake news.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's minister of transport, Fikile Mbalula, has opened a case against the country's TV reality star and choreographer Somizi Mhlongo for allegedly flouting the 21-day Covid-19 coronavirus national lockdown regulations by creating and spreading fake news and misinformation.

Fikile Mbalula announced that he has laid a charge on Friday at the Sandton police station against the Idols judge and star of the reality show Living the Dream with Somizi on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) who earlier this year shared his wedding build-up and ceremony on MultiChoice's Showmax streaming service in the series Somizi & Mohale: The Union. 

Somizi Mhlongo was charged in terms of regulation 11(5)(c) of the Disaster Management Act, in relation to publishing any statement through any medium including social media with the intention to deceive any other person about measures by the government to address Covid-19.

Fikile Mbalula laid the charge after a social media blow-up on Twitter on Thursday night when he and Somizi were both taken to task by the public.

It followed after Dineo Ranaka did an Instagram Live broadcast on Thursday morning in which Somizi Mhlongo was heard saying that Fikile Mbalula told him that president Cyril Ramaphosa would extend the country's national lockdown for a further two weeks before Ramaphosa made the announcement in his Thursday night live televised address.

Fikile Mbalula claims he never spoke to Somizi Mhlongo about an extension of South Africa's national lockdown situation, with Mhlongo who has since apologised on social media and said that he was just joking and that he "did not know about the extension just like everybody else" and that "I apologise to the minister for such a dangerous statement".

Fikile Mbalula said on Friday after he laid the charge,said that "The person who released the video, for whatever reasons, quiet clearly was being disruptive and that is why we forewarn people that do not play with the regulations and disinformation, information peddling and fake news".

"That information, how it was released [by Somizi] - it was meant to be disruptive. Because it [the announcement of the lockdown extension] was not released at the time it was recorded. When I was chatting to him that was recorded in the early-morning show. But it [the announcement of the lockdown extension] was released in the evening," said Fikile who spoke to the media at the police station's gate.

"Quite clearly there is a mischief there by somebody who did it. It was Instagram Live. That's how they did it in the studio and he spoke about me there. The person who released it is not dumb. He was doing it deliberately before the president speaks [sic], to agitate and mobilise the society to say that 'Aah,some of your cabinet members are sitting with their friends, wherever they are sitting, and they are leaking information," said Fikile Mbalula.

WATCH: Minister Mbalula at Sandton Police Station Friday laying a charge against the contravention of Lockdown Regulations. #LockdownSA pic.twitter.com/UgPYisIrx4

— MEDIA LIAISON | Esethu Hasane (@EsethuOnDuty) April 10, 2020

In a written press statement Fikile Mbalula said that "I have noted Somizi Mhlongo's apology, however I do not view his utterances as mere joke, the country is going through a serious disaster management period and any misinformation, irregular or unauthorised information being published is both unlawful and not assisting our cause to manage public affairs carefully".

"Even though Somizi Mhlongo guessed right in his speculative discussion - he went further to mislead the public about the source of his information which undermines and is preemptive on government and the president over very sensitive information of a national security caliber," saying that Somizi Mhlongo "has acted very recklessly and irresponsibly".

The Somizi Mhlongo case is the latest high-profile case this week of people who got into trouble for allegedly flouting rules of South Africa's national lockdown period.

While the country's communications minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, wasn't charged, president Cyril Ramaphosa this week placed her on 2 months "special leave", one month of which will be unpaid, after an image was posted publicly of her doing lunch at the home of South Africa's former deputy minister of higher education and training, Mduduzi Manana.

The Bachelor South Africa's bachelor Marc Buckner of the second season of the reality show screened on M-Net (DStv 101) said on Wednesday that he was allegedly arrested for allegedly violating the national lockdown regulations and fined R1 500 after he was walking back home from shopping.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo told me on Friday night that he can’t confirm whether Marc Bucker was arrested or not but said if a member of the public receives a lockdown period fine and want to challenge that they’re welcome to go to court. 

 "A written J534 fine you don’t have to pay it if you feel that you have been in any way prejudiced or you feel that you were not given the fine justifiably. Then you can go to court and challenge that."

On Tuesday the Durbanville man, Steven Birch appeared in the Cape Town magistrate's court after a case was opened against him for allegedly spreading fake news about Covid-19. In a widely-shared video message on social media he falsely claimed that the South African government's coronavirus testing kits were contaminated and will infect people.


ALSO READ: Coronavirus: The SABC investigating Somizi Mhlongo over his Covid-19 'dangerous joke' fake news.

BREAKING. The Bachelor SA's Marc Buckner arrested during South Africa's Covid-19 national lockdown period.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Bachelor South Africa's bachelor Marc Buckner (36) has been arrested for allegedly violating South Africa's regulations during the national lockdown period - something that he disputes and for which he was fined R1 500.

Marc Buckner, the bachelor of the second season of The Bachelor SA on M-Net (DStv 101), produced by Rapid Blue, was arrested and thrown in the back of a police van on Wednesday morning while he was walking on the sidewalk on his way back home in Cape Town after he went to a shop because he allegedly flouted the country's Covid-19 lockdown rules.

On his Instagram account on social media Marc Buckner revealed that he was arrested on his way back home with the South African police who then searched his backpack and accused him of allegedly having bought "non-essential" items.

He was loaded into the back of a police van with the police who allegedly drove around with him for an hour and eventually taken to a Cape Town police station where was given a fine of R1 500 and told "this is your lucky day".

Marc Buckner, dressed in a blue cap and a grey T-shirt, asked followers to comment on his situation and what he should do and suggested that he's hadn't done anything wrong and doesn't feel included to pay the R1 500.

Marc deleted the videos, likely ordered by M-Net.

M-Net, in response to a media enquiry seeking comment on Friday evening, told me that that "MultiChoice and M-Net are aware of an Instagram post in which Marc Buckner described an incident  that took place after he had left his home during lockdown on Wednesday. The post has since been removed".

"It is not MultiChoice's policy to reveal personal information about staff or talent. The safety of all South Africans is important to us during the lockdown period". 

 Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo told me on Friday night that he can’t confirm whether Marc Bucker was arrested or not but said if a member of the public receives a lockdown period fine and want to challenge that they’re welcome to go to court. 

 "A written J534 fine you don’t have to pay it if you feel that you have been in any way prejudiced or you feel that you were not given the fine justifiably. Then you can go to court and challenge that."

The Bachelor SA continues uninterrupted with new episodes on Thursday nights on M-Net since the the bulk of the season completed filming before the national lockdown period began.

Questions are however swirling and pressure is building around the recording of The Bachelor SA Women Tell All and season finale which are recorded in front of a live studio audience and with all of the women back for a reunion appearance.

It took place at the now-shuttered Urban Brew Studios in Johannesburg and is supposed to be recorded in May two weeks before the broadcast of the season finale.

With the national lockdown period that has now been extended to the end of April, insiders told me that M-Net and Rapid Blue are still mulling various back-up plans and alternatives and haven't yet made any decision as to how the Tell All episode and finale will be done.

M-Net reveals how - and why - it chose Marc Buckner as the bachelor for the second season of The Bachelor SA ... and the channel execs' first 'date' with him to suss him out that they had to fit in at the Cape Town airport.

M-Net is revealing how - and why - it chose Marc Buckner as the bachelor for the second season of The Bachelor SA that will start filming in October - including how the channel executives' first "date" to suss him out took place at the Cape Town International Airport of all places.

"Finding a bachelor for a show like The Bachelor SA is probably one of the hardest processes that we have been through as a team," explains Kaye-Ann, M-Net's head of local content and independent films.

In October, production company Rapid Blue will start filming the second season of The Bachelor SA, set for broadcast on M-Net (DStv 101) from sometime in February 2020.

Following Lee Thompson as the bachelor of the first season, M-Net and Rapid Blue found Marc Buckner, also from Cape Town, as the bachelor for the new local season of the dating reality show that is done according to the Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) format.

"It is so difficult to do because there's a lot of guidance we get from the format and from the format holders but for our M-Net audience and from what we know will work for this format there's a lot of boxes to tick."

"There were so many people that we had to go through, so many "dates" we had to go on - we actually met Marc Buckner at the Cape Town International Airport, we met up with him at the airport and had a discussion with him, but there are a plethora of boxes that need to be ticked in order for us to satisfy a lot of different things."

"The most important thing is that the guy must actually really want to be in a relationship - really wants to settle down and find someone and is ready for a relationship," says Kaye-Ann Williams.

"Then on another level they need to work on television. They need to be able to communicate their feelings. They need to have some kind of self-actualisation, in a sense that they know what they want, they know who they are, they know what they're looking for."

"But then also, when you chat to him, there needs to be some kind of engagement - he needs to have personality, he needs to have a sense of humour, he needs to have an opinion on things; he needs to narrate his own journey as well."

"So when we speak to him, we listen to him and how he narrates his own journey. We ask: 'Tell us about yourself? Tell us about your life? Where you've been, what you've been through?' And we listen to how he tells us his own story but also how he's observed his own life."

"That needs to translate through to the M-Net audience watching. So there are so many different levels that you need to hit that it's such an almost impossible thing to find. We really, really went through a lot of guys."

"The Bachelor SA process to find a bachelor is normally a closed process. The only thing we did differently this time around for the second season is that we opened it up to radio stations who went to see is there anyone out there that we don't know of."

"It's mainly a closed-off process and we approach people, we work through agencies and websites and we have tentacles and people who help us, but this time around we decided to open it up a bit to see what can people bring us," says Kaye-Ann Williams.

"Marc Buckner was actually a lead that came through from two different directions. One was Instagram and one was something else - I'm not going to say who it was but it was someone really amazing. But it was a great process."

Jan du Plessis, director of M-Net channels, says "Kaye-Ann and I went together when the lead came out way and Marc Buckner happened to be in Cape Town. And we immediately investigated it and he's the result as the next bachelor."


ALSO READ: From a new mansion to simplified dates M-Net and Rapid Blue are implementing some behind-the-scenes production changes to improve the second season of The Bachelor SA.
ALSO READ: INTERVIEW. Marc Buckner, The Bachelor SA's new bachelor, on why he's doing it, the love he's looking for - and maybe even shaving for television.
ALSO READ: M-Net reveals Marc Buckner as the bachelor for the second season of The Bachelor SA who is 'husband material' and this time looking for love and a lady.

From a new mansion to simplified dates M-Net and Rapid Blue are implementing some behind-the-scenes production changes to improve the second season of The Bachelor SA.

Besides a new "hot guy" in the shape of Marc Buckner, some significant changes are coming production-wise behind-the-scenes that have been ordered by M-Net to improve the second season of The Bachelor South Africa.

TVwithThinus has learnt that the Rapid Blue produced dating reality show is making some fundamental production changes to try and make Cupid's arrows hopefully find their targets better and coming after the first season on M-Net (DStv 101) ended on a disappointing note when Lee Thompson's relationship was revealed to have fizzled out during the first season finale.

The Bachelor SA, a local version of the dating show format of Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP), is implementing various production changes to try and make love blossom better the second time around.

Marc Buckner will get more actual off-camera time for "dating" on the show to get to know the various women he will meet better. The casting process has also been made even more stringent to weed out fame-seeking women more interested in being on television than finding love.

In addition, one-on-one dates will be simplified and toned down production and filming wise to allow more time spent on the actual date and less time on camera and scene set-up, and there will also be a new mansion used when filming starts in October.

"For us it is really important to make sure that we create that environment where the bachelor and the woman that he is dating are in a 'bubble' - that they get enough time to spend together without any influences; and secondly that there's enough time to really get to know each other," says Jan du Plessis, director of M-Net channels.

" So that's the first thing that we're most definitely doing. And then the other thing is that I had a list of probably 80 or so activities and dates that we were choosing from."

"The moment that Marc signed on the dotted line, we are busy adapting all of those dates and events to suit Marc's personality and interests, so that they can actually go hiking and jogging and do all sorts of outdoors activities with the ladies to see that natural sort of chemistry develop."

"The most important change was the time."

Kaye-Ann, M-Net's head of local content and independent films, says "if you remember Lee Thompson's date with Edith that started off at the top of a hill, and then the next thing was a strawberry farm and then they had a picnic after they picked the strawberries".

"Those three things that happened cost us three different movements and set-ups and location shifts and camera set-ups. It was just too much. There was too little time for them to get to know each other and too much time spent logistically."

"So what we've decided to do is to simplify - whatever it is. There needs to be one set-up, there needs to be one simple movement, unit movement, so that Marc Buckner and the date he is with can actually get to know each other and actually spend time together because all those set-ups cost a lot of time. So those are some of the lessons we've learnt from the first season."

TVwithThinus asked whether the same Sandhurst-set mansion, located in an ultra-affluent residential area in Sandton, Johannesburg, and the wealthiest suburb in the country, will be used again. "No, it won't be the same mansion," says Lani Lombard, M-Net's head of publicity.

"We never told anybody last year where the mansion was, for very good reasons. It's going to be a new mansion this year and again, you won't know where exactly the mansion is. Because you can just imagine, that if people were to know where the mansion is, how they will hang around in the streets."

"We remember from the very first season of Big Brother SA and the Big Brother house, people were in the streets, neighbours complained, and people came to try and see what's going on and what the housemates were doing. If they're to know where the mansion is, it would be madness. So we're keeping the mansion a secret and for the second season it's a different one."

The second season of The Bachelor SA won't start on Valentines Day on 14 February again but is likely to start on M-Net sometime in February 2020 and M-Net will make the season premiere episode once again available on YouTube for a limited time as free-to-view.

INTERVIEW. Marc Buckner, The Bachelor SA's new bachelor, on why he's doing it, the love he's looking for - and maybe even shaving for television.

Marc Buckner, the new bachelor of The Bachelor SA on M-Net, says he doesn't want a woman who is looking to get him into bed but rather out of bed: A go-getter girl who loves to travel and who is willing to experience the adventure of life with him.

Before filming starts in October on the new season, Marc spoke to me about why he agreed to be the new bachelor and what his friends and family said of his big decision, what type of woman he's looking for, his dog and tattoo, if he's a romantic - and maybe shaving for the show.


How did this come about? Did you seek out the production company Rapid Blue or did they approach you, and why did you decide to do this?

Marc: Rapid Blue did find me and that was a few weeks ago. I decided to go ahead because it's the right timing in my life.

I managed to put everything aside for a while and I feel ready to hopefully meet the one. And I'm obviously far more mature than what I was in the past. Now is the time.


You're from Cape Town and I want to ask you your view on the dating scene. Is the Cape Town dating scene difficult, how would you describe dating in Cape Town?
Marc: Up until recently I was doing a lot more travelling - spending most of the year out of South Africa.

Now I have come back to the country, spending some more time here. Cape Town is ... its ... I think Cape Town is a different kettle of fish.

The thing is I'm so busy when I'm home between the different jobs that I do, so The Bachelor SA is an opportunity where I can just forget about everything else and rather focus on meeting someone.

What did your friends and family say when you told them you're doing this and what were their reservations and suggestions or feedback?
Marc: So, obviously a lot of people were congratulating me and super happy. And some felt that I was very brave. It's not a usual situation to put yourself in, you know? Obviously, you're putting yourself out there and it's out in the limelight and on TV. To put it delicately, "brave" is how they worded it.

Who or what qualities are you looking for?
Marc: I'm looking for somebody who is mature and goal-orientated, someone who wants to travel and is like-minded but when I say that, I mean a go-getter, someone who wants to get out there, get me out of bed and who says "let's go create something". That's definitely the person who I would love to spend my time with, or potentially, hopefully, my life.


As a male model you have some experience with the media and how the media industry works and photography, how prepared do you think you are in taking part in a dating reality show on television?
Marc: This is actually very different to what I'm used to. It's a whole other world but I'm excited to find myself in a different spot. I feel that when I do that, that it helps me grow and mature. So it's a different world for me. I'm very open-minded and just trusting the whole process.

You are obviously a model as well, you've been on the cover of various different countries' issues of Men's Health magazine, and in local and international advertising campaigns and there are a lot of shirtless photos of you out there. 

What would be your message for women who haven't entered The Bachelor SA yet and who perhaps have reservations about you and think "This guy as a male model is too egotistical" or that they don't have a chance?
Marc: The thing about my social media is that it has been directed towards future work and I don't think that up until now it has really reflected who I am.

But that's the whole thing - when you get to meet someone you get to show them your true self and that's what I'm hoping for through this whole Bachelor SA process. Women have got until Wednesday 11 September to enter, so if they would like to, go to mnet.tv

You have differing levels of chest hair and a beard. When M-Net announced you as the new bachelor, the woman I saw your photo with said you look like Wolverine. Will you be shaving for the show?
Marc: I am not entirely sure. I'm sure there'll be some point where I will. But to be honest the real reason that I don't is that I just leave things to be as they are. I'm not too "metro" lets put it that way. But ja, I think I may be shaving at some point. I'm not sure, we'll see.

Would you describe yourself as romantic?
Marc: Yes. Absolutely. I have many, many different dates planned. I have many dates in mind. If I can give you the ultimate date for me really is just at a fireplace - I used to have one in my old home in Cape Town and a fireplace with a glass of wine and an amazing dinner that we've cooked together. That would be for me the ultimate date.

Have you perhaps watched the first season of The Bachelor SA and what did you maybe learn?
Marc: I've watched snippets of it. I've actually done some catch-up recently. I don't have any preconceived expectations. There were some really fantastic dates and I think the nice thing about it was that it helped Lee Thompson to discover who he's meeting and likewise on the other side for the date to understand who she is spending her time with and if she would like to continue spending time with him.


Do you think you're a good discerner of character? How will you figure out whether women are there for fame or to be on TV, or really there for you?
Marc: It's obviously a difficult one. I'm just going to trust my gut with it and obviously the M-Net team as well. I'm hoping that spending time with everybody that that will come out.

I see that you have a tattoo that looks like Africa on your back. Can you tell me a little bit about the symbolism and meaning and when and why you got it?
Marc: You know, you're the first person to ask me, and I'm glad you did. I went to Thailand with my mom, I was living in Germany at the time; I hadn't seen her for a while, so we decided to do a hike over to Burma to the opium farmers; refugees actually.

I wanted to get a tattoo done with bamboo, I had something underneath it actually that was a cover-up. So I put the mountains, ocean - which each has its own symbolism, it's own meaning. So the mountains are maturity, the ocean is wisdom. I didn't want words. I wanted something real.

I think you have a dog or dogs. What type of a dog or dogs do you have, and what is the name and why do you have it?
Marc: My furry child - that is Luna Lulu Dog. She came into my life about 8 months ago and she's a rescue. She was abused previously. I don't know what she is - maybe other people could tell me. I think Africanis, Whippet, Doberman, probably a bit of everything actually. She does everything with me; goes everywhere with me.


The issue came up during the first season of The Bachelor SA - if you find love, would you be willing to move elsewhere in South Africa, would the woman have to move to Cape Town? Is the location where you'll live or have to live a relationship deal-breaker?
Marc: I love Cape Town but I'm very flexible. I've lived and travelled in and to so many places and I think that's what helps me to enjoy life but also to grow. I'm open to it. I have lived in Durban previously. So who knows? It would be great to travel to those areas and to see what it's like.

M-Net reveals Marc Buckner as the bachelor for the second season of The Bachelor SA who is 'husband material' and this time looking for love and a lady.

M-Net (DStv 101) on Saturday afternoon revealed Barc Buckner (36) as the bachelor who will be looking for love and a lady in the second season of The Bachelor South Africa.

M-Net describes Marc Brent Buckner as a "mature, witty, energetic, smart, adventurous and compassionate, globe-trotting action man and multiple property owner and currency trader and investor".

Marc Buckner will be introduced on Sunday night, 8 September 2019, just after Carte Blanche on M-Net in an on-air promo, with entries for women who want to possibly meet him in the second season of the reality show that will be closing on Wednesday 11 September 2019.

The second season of The Bachelor SA follows after the first season that had Lee Thompson as the bachelor and is again being produced by Rapid Blue as a localised version of the dating show format of Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP).

His full name is Marc Brent Buckner and he "is the type of guy who puts his heart and soul into everything he does," says Lani Lombard, M-Net’s head of publicity.

"Once you’ve seen that twinkle in his eye and have the chance to engage with him in conversations  on a range of topics – from environmental issues, to motorbikes, healthy living, wellness, psychology and news headlines – there’s really only one way to describe him – husband material! And that’s exactly what we want our Bachelor to be."

M-Net says that when Marc Buckner isn't exploring foreign destinations – often in the company of one of his favourite people in the world, his mom – or analysing economic trends to boost his bank account – you will find Marc in the great outdoors.

"Hiking, kayaking, snorkelling, sky-diving or enjoying a 'picnic with a view' count among his best-loved activities. It’s just as important to him to build trusting, close relationships."

"Cooking a meal alongside a loved one and having a meaningful conversation over a glass of wine near a crackling fireplace is right up his alley. Another bonus for the ladies: he loves DIY projects and even builds his own furniture," says M-Net of Marc Buckner.

"Growing his own vegetable garden is on his to-do-list for when he finds 'the one' and starts his own family."

If Marc looks familiar, here's why: a modelling agency approached him at the age of sixteen and since then he’s appeared in commercials for many prominent brands and tested his acting chops in small parts in a couple of  music videos and movies.

"It opened many doors for me and allowed me to go to exotic places and meet many interesting people," Marc says in M-Net's statement.

"But now I'm about to open the most exciting door of them all – the opportunity to meet my other half on The Bachelor South Africa. I have no preconceived ideas of who this woman should be."

"Sometimes opposites attract and I can’t wait to invest quality time in getting to know the diverse group of powerful South African ladies who are as keen as I am to put their hearts on the line for love on a television show."

Jason Greer will again be the host of the second season and be facilitating the rose ceremonies as well as serving as a mentor figure to Marc throughout his reality love journey.

The second season of The Bachelor SA will be filmed between 5 October and 5 December 2019.