Last week, the new South African Survivor series launched with a group of nine celebrities as well as a group of ten members of the public who were banished to two separate islands, not knowing of each others’ existence. Causing much confusion, the “celebs” and “plebs” each received a blue or a yellow buff from host Nico Panagio at their first challenge. The blue group and yellow group then engaged in a fierce battle for reward or immunity, just to be sent back to their island with their competitors, wearing the other colour buff, in tow.



To add fuel to the fire of distrust, celebrity Philicity Reeken was the only person who received a mysterious black buff. In yet another twist, only the “plebs” went to tribal council, where they got rid of muscle-man Lukhanyo.



All the pieces of the puzzle came together when the “celebs” and “plebs” met at the first challenge of episode 2. The two groups – with 9 members each - were mixed up according to tribal colours. The Survivors with yellow buffs formed Raituhn, meaning “ordinary person” in Maldivian dialect, while the tribe with the blue buffs became Goma, the Maldivian word for “famous” or “important”.

As Goma only had 8 members, Philicity’s black buff was exchanged for a blue buff.



The newly-formed tribes immediately had to display their ability to work as a team in a gruelling reward challenge. Raithun took the honours and won an unusual reward: the option to choose their island and an expert Maldivian guide who could teach them where and how to find the ingredients for scrumptious, filling island meals.



But before the tribes returned to their new homes, Nico introduced a brand new twist to the game – a troublesome leverage device called “the black cowrie”.



How does the black cowrie work? The bearer of the black cowrie will always enter tribal council with one vote already against his or her name, but can break the curse by deflecting to the other tribe before an immunity challenge. If the person is voted out, he or she has to pass on the cowrie to another tribe member. The bearer of the black cowrie can also only deflect once, but will keep the cowrie on the other side too, where it will still be passed on if he or she is voted out. (For a detailed explanation, go to www.mnet.co.za/survivorSA)



Tasleem from Raituhn and Alison from Goma became the first owners of the black cowrie after being chosen by their tribe members as “the person most likely not to survive the game of Survivor.”



The well-fed members of Raithun, who took the advice of their guide to heart, beat Goma at the immunity challenge, which meant that Alison entered the episode with one vote against her name.



Had the Goma celebrities stuck together, they could easily have cemented an upper hand in their tribe. There were five “celebs” and four “plebs” after all, with one “pleb” wearing the black cowrie.

Yet, Vanessa Haywood, Roxy Burger, MXO and Jacques Terre’blanche wrote down Philicity’s name, while a nervous Jacques and Roxy received two votes each.



Sean September was the only “pleb” who opted to cast his vote for Philicity.



Will the “celebs” regret their decision not to capitalise on their strength in numbers? Or is the move to get rid of Philicity all part of someone’s master plan?

Whose head will roll next? Tune into Survivor South Africa: Maldives for episode 3 on Thursday, 10 March at 19:30 or go to the Survivor Facebook site www.facebook.com/survivorSA to see how the fans interpret the latest Survivor going-ons!