Survivor SA: let the games begin...

Survivor South Africa has captured the imagination of the country, with over 18 000 people submitting entry forms in the hope of getting a shot at the R1 million prize up for grabs. Only 14 contestants made the grade, after taxing biokinetical and psychological tests and a nerve-jangling wait to see who would be South Africa's first group of Survivors.

The veil of secrecy which surrounded the selection process continues to shroud the contestants, as they were allowed to tell only those closest to them where they would be disappearing to for a month. All 14 signed confidentiality agreements as, according to M-Net publicity manager Lani Lombard, keeping the 14 contestants' identities under wraps is a vital part of the Survivor format.

"It's very difficult to keep a secret as big as the fact that you've been chosen as a Survivor South Africa contestant, but it's vital for the success of the show. Events that transpire on the island during and after the competition are also protected by the agreements they signed, which penalise them heavily should they not comply - all in the name of making Survivor South Africa the biggest show of the year!" she says.

A grueling series of flights via Madrid and Panama City awaits them, but that's nothing compared to the tests they'll face on the island.

Lombard is confident that the personalities selected will make for good television. "There are 14 VERY different people taking part in Survivor South Africa, from diverse backgrounds - a surefire hit for creating a fantastic show," she says.