Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island

Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island
Season 8
Presented byNico Panagio
No. of days39
No. of castaways20
WinnerNicole Wilmans
Runner-upAnela Majozi
LocationWild Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa
No. of episodes16
Release
Original networkM-Net
Original release3 June (2021-06-03) –
16 September 2021 (2021-09-16)
Additional information
Filming dates6 November (2020-11-06) –
14 December 2020 (2020-12-14)[1]
Season chronology
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Island of Secrets

Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island is the eighth season of the South African reality competition show, Survivor South Africa. Before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, this would have been the first time in the show's history that a third season ordered by M-Net would have aired in back-to-back years. Originally shelved due to budget and broadcast scheduling[2] after the end of the seventh season, the show's social media announced a Season 8 audition call on 8 December 2019.[3] Applications were open from then until the 20th of January 2020, with the season airing in the second half of 2020. Immunity Island was the sixth season hosted by Nico Panagio and was produced by Afrokaans Film & Television.

Production was initially set to take place from March to May 2020;[4] however, M-Net and Afrokaans had to reassess the season's location and timeline for filming due to the COVID-19 pandemic potentially putting the production and full cast at risk of exposure.[5] Series director Leroux Botha assured fans that Afrokaans were making a plan to navigate the pandemic.[6] On the 16th of April 2020, M-Net announced that the season would be postponed indefinitely as a result of the global measures in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the safety of the film production, crew and contestants that had been cast, M-Net felt the need to halt production before it began.[7] On December 17, Afrokaans and M-Net announced that they managed to finish filming a season locally in South Africa,[8] with a following announcement on December 20 that the season was filmed in the Wild Coast region of the Eastern Cape, with a premiere date set for 3 June 2021.[9] The season concluded with a pre-recorded finale and reunion which aired on September 16, 2021, when Nicole Wilmans was crowned Sole Survivor over Anela Majozi by a vote of 8–1.

  1. ^ Shannon Guss; Mike Bloom (24 December 2020). "International Survivor | Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island Preview with Leroux Botha". Rob Has a Podcast (Podcast). Event occurs at 13:24. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  2. ^ "M-Net on why Survivor South Africa wasn't renewed for the 8th season". TVwithThinus. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Season 8 Announcement Tweet". Survivor SA Twitter Account. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Survivor SA: Season 8 FAQ's". M-Net Survivor SA. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  5. ^ Ferreira, Thinus (12 March 2020). "As the coronavirus pandemic spreads M-Net is reassessing Survivor SA 8th season filming and the location as the American Survivor delays production". TV with Thinus. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Series Director Statement on Season 8 production". Leroux Botha's Twitter Account. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  7. ^ "M-Net indefinitely postpones 8th season of Survivor SA over Covid-19 lockdown". News24. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  8. ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "M-Net's Survivor SA: Immunity Island wraps secret filming". News24. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  9. ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "MM-Net's Survivor SA: Immunity Island switches to the Wild Coast with 20 castaways". News24. Retrieved 20 December 2020.