For
the first time in the series’ 8-season history, Survivor South Africa was
filmed on home soil on the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, thanks to an
innovative partnership with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) –
resulting in job creation, upskilling and a much-needed financial boost to the
region.
The
partnership, which saw the producers employ 103 local people across all
departments of the show, also saw a substantial financial injection into the
region.
“During production, we employed local people as carpenters, set
builders, production assistants, camera and grips assistants, lifeguards and
security personnel, as well as painters, drivers and art department
assistants,” says Creative Producer and Series Director, Leroux Botha.
“Besides
the skills transferred by the different departments to people who had never
worked on a TV set before – let alone a production of the scale of Survivor
South Africa – the influx of capital into the Wild Coast post the COVID-19
lockdown made a very big difference in the lives of the people of the area. A
lot of the building material for the different challenges were also donated to
the local schools and communities”.
ECDC
Interim Chief Executive Officer Mandla Mpikashe says that the agency pursued
the innovative partnership with M-Net for its potential to unlock economic
activities in the province.
“Through these strategic partnerships, the
objective is to develop the film industry value chain to realize continuous
investments, job creation and skills development within the Eastern Cape,” says
Mpikashe.
“The ECDC investment of R2 million towards the production of Survivor
South Africa: Immunity Island in the Wild Coast resulted in an economic
impact value of more than R10 million. Of the 103 jobs created by the
production, 55 were held by women and 60 were held by local youth.”
When
restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic meant that production had to be kept
close to home, producers from Afrokaans Film &
Television immediately
turned to the Wild Coast as a location, with its lush jungles and desolate
beaches a perfect fit for the show’s challenging requirements.
Botha says that Survivor
South Africa: Immunity Island is going to put the Wild Coast – and the
Eastern Cape – on the global map for other Survivor territories to possibly use
the area as a location.
Botha
says that the positive financial impact of hosting the production on the Wild
Coast helped offset the area’s losses suffered as a result of the closure of
many industries and the sudden halt to tourism – a major financial artery for
the area.
The production team harnessed the skills and stocks of local wood and
steel suppliers, local artists, craftsmen as well as food and drink suppliers
and hotel personnel, the numbers of which had to be increased due to the
accommodation requirements of the Survivor crew and support staff.
“As the
producers of Survivor South Africa, we would like to thank the people of
the Eastern Cape for their wonderful contributions to the 8th season of the
show. It’s shaping up to be our best season yet, and the way the show looks,
feels and showcases the region would not have been possible without the
tenacity, dedication and skill of the local people and the support of the
ECDC,” he says.
South African viewers wanting to relive all
the great moments from Survivor SA ahead of the new season can find
seasons 6 and 7 on Showmax.
Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island is produced by Afrokaans and once more hosted by Nico Panagio.
- The
series premiered on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) on Thursday, 3 June at 19:30.
