Lukhanyo - who has run onto the field for the Springbok Sevens, the Cheetahs, the Blue Bulls, Lions and Griquas, and who is currently on the Sharks Vodacom side - started the game as one of the most confident contenders. But his competitive nature, physical strength and charming smile could not withstand the plotting and scheming of his befuddled team mates.

In an episode filled with twists and turns, that left the contestants completely confused, two groups of Survivors were banned to two desolate islands in the southernmost atoll of the exotic Maldives. The one group – nine exuberant celebrities – started their game in tuxedos and glamorous gowns when the Maldivian Minister of Defense interrupted their cocktail party to send them off to their island. At the same time, the other group, consisting of ten ordinary South Africans, met a fierce local village chief and prison authority, who issued them with prison uniforms, and sternly deported them to their new “home” in the tropical wilds.

So, on one island we had the “celebs” and on another the “plebs”, not knowing of the other group’s existence. From here onwards, the new season of Survivor South Africa bamboozled contestants and viewers alike by side-stepping all Survivor conventions.

Only the celebs were called for the first reward challenge and, to their surprise, the small group of nine were divided into two opposing side. Music star MXO, singer Jacques Terre’Blanche, TV presenter Roxy Burger and District 9 leading lady Vanessa Haywood all drew blue Survivor buffs, while soap stars Hykie Berg, Tshepo Maseko, Carmel Fisher and Bonnie Henna became the members of the yellow team. However, for comedienne Philicity Reeken there were neither a blue or yellow buff. She ended up with a mysterious black buff, which exempted her from participating in the challenge.

From the sidelines, Philicity saw how the Mud Sumo wrestling challenge rapidly turned the sociable celebrities into ferocious fighters and how the blue team beat the yellow team to walk off with the reward – a fishing kit with a spear, net, hooks, line and sinkers as well as the most precious of Survivor items – flint for fire.

Wearing their different colour buffs, the celebrities of course assumed that they were now in two opposing tribes, with Philicity as some kind of a pawn that will end up with either of the tribes. But then Survivor host Nico Panagio sent them all back to their island together, leaving them confused about their future and the rationale of the reward challenge.

While the reward challenge was reserved for the celebrities, the “plebs” were the only castaways at the exhausting immunity challenge, ominously called “Coconut Death Swim”, where they had to row, swim, retrieve puzzle pieces and solve a palindrome to win. They too, were divided into two groups. Rugby player Lukhanyo, HR manager Simon, lawyer Sean, events coordinator Sindi and mother of five Alison made up the blue team. The yellow team thus consisted of Zulu induna Malusi, engineer Tejan, maths lecturer Harry, make-up artist Tasleem and biokeneticist Letshego.

The powerful physically strong blue team were the front-runners right from the start, but then the yellow team came from behind to win the immunity challenge. So, the blue team became the first team to face the series’ dreaded tribal council.

But they were only 5 men strong! While they tried to come to grips with this unforeseen conundrum, with the yellow "plebs" watching their every move, the celebrities were dealing with hunger pangs on their island. Instead of using their reward to catch fish, they did the unthinkable... They feasted on rats!

Initially the blue team gunned for loner Sean, but with some serious convincing by Alison, Lukhanyo received the most votes at tribal council, which was attended by all the plebs.

Why were they all present at tribal council if they had different colour buffs? Why all the odd contestant numbers, strange divisions and puzzling moves? What is going on? These were the questions all the contestants desperately wanted to be answered at the end of this exciting episode.

Will all be revealed next week? Will it be Celebs against Plebs? Or will the tribes be chosen in a new way?

Catch Survivor South Africa: Maldives on Thursdays at 19:30 and watch exclusive behind-the-scenes footage on www.mnet.co.za/survivorSA