The revelation comes just days after intense speculation with Survivor SA fans asking whether the faces featured on the new outdoor billboards for Survivor SA: Island of Secrets were real castaways from the show. As it turns out, they are indeed some of the contestants who signed up to battle it out in the beautiful island of Samoa. Among the first contenders to make it is the reigning Mrs Cape Town, Lee-Anne van Reenen (bottom right), and two more familiar faces; Miss Namibia 2015 and fitness model, Steffi Brink (bottom left) and Olympic athlete, Rocco van Rooyen.

Steffi Brink

Lee-Ann van Reenen

Also ready to kick butts in the upcoming, Survivor SA season 7, is 40 year old entrepreneur and biker queen, Sepei Mashugane. The no-nonsense single mother of two children has the grit and determination to see her through many of the challenges ahead. As she tells producers, it’s always her way “or the highway”. When not overseeing the day-day running of several business ventures, you can be sure to find her reving it up on her Harley Davidson on road trips across the country. And she’s even collected numerous medals along the way. Way to go woman!

Sepei Masshugane

Rocco van Rooyen

In this season of Survivor SA, age ain’t nothing but a number

Although slightly older than her competitors, 51-year old immigration consultant, Tania Cooeland, believes she has all that it takes to show them how it’s done. The self-proclaimed hedonist is an avid rock climber who loves all kinds of outdoor adventures. Oh, and she’s not shy to let the world in on her no-longer-guilty pleasure, a marijuana joint.

Tania Cooelan

A plus for the ladies, there’s also drop-dead gorgeous hunks with the six-pack to swoon over. Feast your eyes on the oh-so sexy video producer, Nathan Castle, 25 (below left). Blessed not only with good looks, Nathan is a highly competitive individual who graduated with a law degree from the University of the Western Cape. A part-time personal trainer, he also co-owns a production facility in Cape Town. Apart from being a sociable all-rounder, he admits that his competitiveness sometimes comes with a bit of a temper – and that can be a risky combination, but good for reality television no doubt.

Nathan Castle

Robert Bentele

A perfect mix of races, energies and good looks

Wait a minute, is that a bulked-up Trevor Noah that we just saw (above right). Not quite so, but his lookalike, Robert Bentele (28). The drop-dead gorgeous event photographer has mixed parents too – his dad is Austrian and his mother Zulu. A former bodybuilder and MMA fighter who has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, for him the universe is one big sea of energy. We are told he’s now into Zen meditation (traditional Buddhist discipline providing insight into how the mind works peace) and other similar forms of spiritual enlightenment. It’s no wonder he thinks he can easily outcharm his teammates and rivals alike just like that. “I’m a chameleon, I can be anything you want me to be,” Robert says. But is it possible to stay this cool and collected while others are plotting against you? We’ll have to wait and see!

Felix Godlo

Then there’s sales consultant, Felix Godlo, 29 (above). Felix comes from a traditional Xhosa family, but was offered a sports scholarship at an Afrikaans high school. Today, he is married to his Afrikaans high school sweetheart and they are proud parents to a year old baby boy. A talented sportsman, he played rugby for the Vikings while still a student at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria. He later represented Old Selbournians rugby club in East London.

Survivor SA Season 7 premiere date

South Africa’s own Jeff Probst, the much loved Nico Panagio makes an anticipated returns for the fifth time as the host of Survivor South Africa (season 7). Filmed in the breathtaking island of Samoa, the latest version follows hot on the heels of the runaway success of Survivor SA: Philippines. Coincidentally, the upcoming new season premiers on M-Net from Thursday 16 May (19:30), a day before Survivor: Edge of Extinction American finale on Wednesday, 15 May.

To find out what transpires on your favourite South African adventure reality TV show (Survivor SA: Island of Secrets), tune in to M-Net (DStv 101) every Thursday, 7pm. For more info and updates, go to mnet.tv/survivorsa.



