TuksVivor Season 4 has concluded for the year, and it has never been bigger or better. The event was conducted over 9 days and saw 24 contestants from surrounding UP residences participate. The show was hosted by Survivor SA contestant Francois “Chappies” Chapman, who is also an alumnus of UP. The contestants participated in a variety of events including immunity challenges and tribal councils, which led to contestants being eliminated.
The participants were divided into tribes and made shelters, competed in challenges, formed alliances, and voted contestants out, all in the hopes of being crowned Sole Survivor. The final tribal council of 2025 was a momentous occasion for Amber, Charl, and Anele – the final three. The jury members, also known as the participants who have been eliminated, joined in on the action to decide who should become Sole Survivor.
The final kicked off with a dramatic, chronological recap of the season, showing elimination after elimination, until it ended with the finalist walking off in the distance. Each member of the jury could ask one of the final three a question. Anele championed her alliances in helping and supporting her journey to the final. The jury accused Amber of “hiding behind her friend”, but she defended herself and said that she played “with her heart and her head”. Charl said that he always made sure he had “people [he] trusted on all sides”, so if he “felt that a person was against [him]”, he could do the same to them. The jury seemed to voice rumours that Charl had started the fire with a “smuggled-in lighter”.
After the inquisition, the final three were given the chance to explain why they felt like they deserved to win. Anele felt she should win because she played an “honest game”. Charl said that he felt he had “control over the game” and that he was “one of the only people that got there on his own” by playing “an excellent game”. Amber said that she tried to play a game that if she were a viewer, she would “root for herself” and explained how she was “always positive”.
The jury went to cast their votes for the winner, and when Chappies read them, there was a tie – three for Amber, three for Anele, and one for Charl. The jury members had to revote, but this time, they could only choose between Amber and Anele. Before they read the final votes, previous jury members, including the first TuksVivor winner from 2021, joined in to hear the results.
Salmo, the fan favourite, won R5 000. Anele came second with three votes and won R10 000. Amber came first with four votes and won R20 000. Amber stays in Curelitzia, and when asked by PDBY what she would tell someone who is considering participating in TuksVivor, she said, “I would encourage anybody [to consider] taking part.” She elaborated by saying that she “really loved the experience” and it was “life changing”.
The rumour regarding the fire and alleged lighter was discussed, and it was ultimately decided that “there was actually a lighter”. Charl put his hand up and said that someone had got a lighter from a worker. They had tried to create a fire the traditional way, but no one would admit to whether the lighter was actually used. In the final, Charl also revealed that he had a hidden immunity idol and never played it.
Chappies wanted to give a word of thanks to the following people involved: the contestants, Intundla Lodge, the medics from EmergiMed, Thirsti Water, Create Technologies, Ethnic Solutions, TS Networking, Beautifiers, RGB Creative, Stage Alive Production House, TuksRes, and the University of Pretoria.
