- Despite putting up a tough fight, Renier was voted off Survivor SA taking Amy with him in the recent 'tied destinies' episode.
- In a last attempt at tribal council, the 30-year-old pulled out a bag claiming that he had a hidden immunity island.
- 'For me, Survivor SA is the cherry on top of a 20-year old cake I was baking. This has been my dream for 20 years," says Renier.
Chemical engineer Renier Louwrens, 30, from Secunda did everything he could to advance in Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island on M-Net (DStv 101) and eventually even pulled, not a final rabbit, but a bogus bag "immunity idol" out of his pocket at tribal council.
But host Nico Panagio said it wasn't real, and Renier, together with Amy, who was ousted in a "tied destinies" episode, became the next castaway joining the jury.
How upset were you for leaving the way you did?
There's no level of words to describe the level of upsetness [sic]. For me, upset breaks down in different components and the majority of the upset came from disappointment. For me, Survivor wasn't, "Oh that cool adventure that I wanted to do" or "Wow, I really love the game" or "I can win a million rand".
For me, Survivor SA is the cherry on top of a 20-year old cake I was baking. This has been my dream for 20 years; this is what I live for; my wife and I haven't stopped watching Survivor since we watched the first episode of the first season together. We break down every strategy, and all of that built up over 20 years.
It's pretty much the equivalent of inflating a balloon, and if you just inflate it a little bit every day for 20 years, you don't realise how big that thing is when it pops, and that is exactly what happened to me.
That is why I felt so disappointed when Nico snuffed my torch, and there was a real tear in my eye when I told Nico that I gave my best, that I gave my best in every challenge and at tribal. I promise you I left nothing out; I gave my best. Because of that, I was struck down; I was extremely sad that I had to leave the game.
Do you feel that Chappies stabbed you in the back, or did you not have a solid relationship with him?
No, I don't think Chappiess stabbed me in the back. I think I underestimated the weight of Santoni's opinion in Chappies' ear. I know that Chappies was hurt after the first merge vote because he thought me and him were very tight, and then I voted against him, and he was hurt there, so there was no obligation for Chappies to save me.
What I underestimated is how scared Chappies is of Santoni's vote. If Santoni tells Chappies yes, then it is yes, because that is what happened. And when Santoni tells Chappies it is no, then it is no. And that's what happened. I wouldn't say he stabbed me in the back. He was true to his alliance, and that is how it played out.
I presume it must have been extremely stressful – although it makes for excellent viewing – to take a bogus bag and immunity idol out of your pocket, walk up to Nico, and present it at tribal. When did you feel that you're going to do that?
Before the season started, I said if there's a 2% chance of me staying in the game, I will press on it. When I was feeling uncomfortable whether Chappies is in or not, I told myself, "Renier, there has to be a Plan B; there has to be something." So I stole the tree mail little blue beads, put that into the bag of my previous idol, and said to myself that I don't know what's going to happen tonight, but I have something with me.
[Laughs] I remember walking to tribal thinking, "Renier, if you can get Kiran to scream at you, at least that will be one win." I'm just saying that tongue-in-cheek. So to answer your question, I wasn't really at the point of I'm going to do X, Y, Z at tribal and then I'm going to do this and that.
I just knew that, Renier, you're not going out without trying. If I have to go home and sit and think, "Ag, Renier, if you only tried harder at tribal", I would never be able to forgive myself. I took it with me to tribal without a specific plan and just told my alliance that whatever happens tonight, we're voting Tyson. Don't change. Whatever happens tonight, we're voting Tyson. I will do something, but what exactly I'm not sure of yet. And that was in the lead-up to tribal.
What surprised you the most in looking back and seeing who said and did what?
I think Thoriso is an incredible reader of the game and the way that she picked up on the dynamic of the tribe, although not saying it in public. I think she's extremely underestimated and very, very socially aware – not only a strategically orientated player.
I really enjoyed her confessionals. Then on the complete flipside, in the same package more or less, is Santoni's ability to say in your face, "Sjo, Renier, I completely love you," and behind you go, "Oh that Renier, what an idiot." It's the Survivor player Santoni which surprised me, I must say.
I often laughed, thinking, I hear what you're saying about person X, but I remember sitting and listening to you when you came to chat to them, and those were two different stories. So that to me was very interesting.
Survivor SA: Immunity Island airs Thursdays at 19:30 on M-Net (DStv 101)