Johannesburg – Just when contestants thought they knew where they stood in the competition, Tropika Island Of Treasure delivered one of its biggest twists yet!
Caster Semenya made a surprise return to the island, teaming up with Ashay Sewlall to form an all-new Team Orange, while celebrity contestants Sandile Mahlangu and Nadia Nakai saw their journeys come to an unexpected end.
The drama unfolded after Team Mango Peach (Sandile Mahlangu and Jodell Tantij) and Team Green Apple (Nadia Nakai and Andile Khuluse) received the dreaded outcome during the Mystery Box Swap, leaving both teams vulnerable and facing possible elimination.
But host Zanele Potelwa had a major surprise up her sleeve.
Two previously eliminated teams, Team Orange (Caster Semenya and Thando Zwane) and Team Pineapple (Wiseman Mncube and Ashay Sewlall), were given one more shot at returning to the competition.
One last chance to get back in the game The four teams went head-to-head as individuals in the Tropika Reruns challenge, where speed, balance and strategy were key.
Contestants had to transport 15 cans of Tropika from one side of the beach to the other using an oar, carrying one, two, three, four and eventually five cans at a time.
Each can had to slide into a cooler box, with the first contestants to complete the challenge securing their place back on the island.
The first celebrity contestant and the first Smoooth Fan to finish would each earn their way back into the competition, with the two winners forming an entirely new team.
Ashay Sewlall emerged as the winning Smoooth Fan, while Olympic champion Caster Semenya claimed victory in the celebrity category.
Their wins brought them back into the competition as the brand-new Team Orange.
The result, however, meant the end of the road for the remaining member of Team Pineapple (Wiseman Mncube) and Team Orange (Thando Zwane).
This also meant that Team Mango Peach (Sandile Mahlangu and Jodell Tantij) and Team Green Apple (Nadia Nakai and Andile Khuluse) were eliminated from the competition, leaving the remaining contestants stunned by the dramatic shake-up.
A new team, a fresh challenge
There was little time for the returning contestants to celebrate, as the remaining teams were thrown straight into another challenge: Memory Divers.
This time, teams had to swim out to five buoys, where contestants dived underwater to memorise three symbols at each station. Remembering the number, shape and colour of each symbol was crucial.
Once they had gathered all the information, they had to swim back to shore and recreate the symbols on a puzzle board, arranging them in numerical order from 1 to 15.
Team Blueberry Cheesecake rose to the challenge, taking first place with four points.
Team Tropical followed in second place with three points, while Team Peach claimed third with two points.
Team Litchi finished fourth, earning one point, leaving the newly formed Team Orange in last place.
However, all was not lost for Caster and Ashay.
The pair managed to find the Smoooth Charm, securing a valuable advantage heading into the next Mystery Box Challenge.
With a brand-new team dynamic, the competition is shaken up, and a powerful advantage in their hands, can Caster and Ashay turn their fortunes around and stay safe on the island?
Or will their comeback be short-lived?
Find out in the next episode of Tropika Island Of Treasure! Catch Tropika Island Of Treasure every Wednesday at 21:00 on SABC 1, with a repeat every Thursday at 18:00 on S3.
