He might be skinny and weigh only 56kg, but Alex Potgieter from Louis Trichardt has his sights set on becoming one of the selected few “survivors” to take part in the popular South African reality television show with the same name.

Survivor South Africa will this year take place in the Maldives, with auditions scheduled to take in several of the country’s major cities over the next couple of weeks.

Alex, a well-known face at Archer Paint Centre, is so determined to get selected that he bought a ticket for the Durban auditions, prior to the Johannesburg audition on September 4, just to double his chances.

Alex has already started his adventure. Sean and his team at Body Life have started him on a gruelling training session at the gym in preparation for the physical side of the game.

As for the dietary part of the game, Alex says this will be no problem.

“Food has always been the last thing on my mind. I will definitely not mind being without food … I will be willing to give my share of the ‘coconuts’ to my fellow tribe mates,” says Alex.

His game plan around the campsite will be to be the ever busy working ant, always willing to help gather fire wood, collect water and even venture into the ocean to catch some fish for a tasty dinner. He is a neat freak, so he will always be cleaning up after his team mates, which will really make him indispensable.

The only concern Alex has is the rodents which scurry around during the night, climbing over the sleeping contestants.

“I am afraid, no petrified, of these little critters and this would be most entertaining for the viewers,” says Alex.

Alex says his body hasn’t seen the sun this winter and is looking for someone to sponsor him for an hour or so on a sunbed for a beach-ready body. He is planning to wear a red Speedo to boost his ratings, just like another previous Survivor contestant did.

As for strategy, Alex says: “I do have a strategy to stay in the game, yet it is safer not to reveal it. All I know is you should have everything planned out in your mind, so that when you are there with all the other tribe members, you will be able to know how and when to handle the situation, and only then will you be able to execute the strategy. Hopefully it will work.”

Although Alex has his game plan in order, he knows that all this means nothing if he is not selected. If he does get selected and even wins, Alex says: “People have asked me about the R1 million prize money. Honestly, I have not even thought of that. I want a challenge in my life. I need to do something for only me, Alex Potgieter.”