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Cape Town - He was a strong contender to win and a clear favourite among viewers, so it came as a shock when Werner Joubert was voted off Survivor South Africa: Philippines last Thursday.
Werner was called everything from a “snake” to “The Godfather” but there’s no denying the 34-year-old pastor and biokineticist played one hell of a strategic game.
“Outwit, outplay and outlast” was his motto.
Werner, who’s from Secunda in Mpumalanga, may have left the island, but he still has a hand in the game. He’ll be part of the jury deciding who’ll walk away with the coveted R1m prize in the two-hour finale episode on M-Net (DStv 101) on Thursday night.
We’re down to the last three contestants: Cape Town caterer Annelize Sainsbury, radio producer Jeanne Michel, also from Cape Town, and adventure camp manager from Port Elizabeth Tom Swartz.
We caught up with Werner to find out who he thinks will win.
“When I think of the top three I see three players who’ve each played a different game,” Werner tells us.
He says it’s fair game.
“You’ve got Jeanne, who’s actually been with me since day one, and I’ve got respect for her because I saw her play a manoeuvre. She had very good thoughts about the game and what we should do. Most of the time we were in unity.”
Werner thinks of Jeanne as a strategic and social player but adds that her competition in this regard is Annelize.
“Annelize is also a very good social player. Coming out from behind, she socialised her way into our alliance. I’ve got respect for that as well.”
As for Tom, the physicality of his game is what brought him this far, Werner reckons.
“He played a very abrasive game and made it to the end, more of a physical game.
“For me it’s important to see what they do now, now that I’m gone.”
What will influence his vote? For Werner it’s the answer to only one question: “Who’s going to stand up and be the person who takes control of this game?”
“For me it’s quite an equal race and I can see myself voting for any one of those three, depending on who rises up now and takes control,” he adds.
Werner is the 15th contestant to be voted out of the game and makes up the 7th member of the jury who’ll vote for this year’s winner.
On Thursday, South Africans will see him reunited with his fellow players, some of whom he built strong connections with.
“It’s hard to say who deserves what because no one deserves anything. It’s just a privilege to play,” he says, but adds that one person he would’ve loved to have seen make it to the finale is Cape Town social media influencer Katinka Oosthuizen who, he feels, played her heart out in the game.
“She turned against me and it didn’t turn out well for both of us. But you know what, I would’ve loved to see that 19-year-old sitting there at the end, making a case for herself.”
We can’t wait to see how the drama unfolds!
A special broadcast of Survivor SA: Philippines will air on M-Net (DStv 101) on Thursday, 16 August from 19:00 to 21:00.
