BE: Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenalin junkie
Siv: It has to be Culture and Adrenalin junkie. I will always try something I have never tried before. On the show, I will be the one to do the racing and all the crazy things. As for Culture, I am intrigued by people, the state of a country and concerned if it is indeed working and of course how. That makes you realize on a daily basis how sick we are as a country. In turn the show pivots on the authentic connection Janez and I have.
BE: What have you learned from your travels?
Siv: A smile goes a long way. Always have respect and empathy, the world in general needs it. You return a better person, one you know you like.
BE: You have already done Tropika Island of Treasure (South African Reality Show). If you had the opportunity to do one of the following reality shows, Survivor or The Amazing Race, in aid of your charity Siv Gives Back (SGB) which one would it be and why.
Siv: Tricky, I love Survivor, but it has to be The Amazing Race though. My partner has to be a woman, so she can balance my energy.
BE: Name five things you would take with you on the show (should it be allowed)
Siv: Cell phone, passport, credit card, condom and an open mind
BE: Which series is the series to binge watch and to admit that you have done so.
Siv: I am currently watching This Is Us. As a man in his thirties, I can relate to this as it is a true portrayal of family lives and connections of several people who all share the same Birthday and the ways in which they are similar and different. It was a mind-blowing experience visiting Columbia; everything looks exactly like it did in 1959. That prompted me to watch the movie on Pablo Escobar’s life, but I hate subtitles.
BE: Would you agree a series is at its most potent in its first season?
Siv: Yes, I would watch the first to third season at the most.
BE: What is your take on remakes and would you consider playing in one?
Siv: I struggle with them, as it is not authentic; having said that, The Shawshank Redemption would be a firm favourite to do.
BE: Movie or Book, for example Fifty Shades of Grey?
Siv: I would do neither for Fifty Shades of Grey. In general, I definitely prefer the movie.
BE: What would you tell your teenage self?
Siv: Don’t worry it will all come together.
BE: Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?
Siv: Not any specifically, I strive to be a better person today than I was yesterday.
BE: What can we expect from you in the year ahead?
Siv: It will be difficult to achieve more in 2018 than I have achieve d in 2017. I will be focussing on my sanitary pad drive, to better the delivery of the products to those in rural areas and achieving sustainability. (In 2016 Siv launched a sanitary pad drive and collected 150 000 pads for young girls in need.)
BE: We did ask...
Siv: Yes Siv is single. He has no ambition to settle down just yet; but loves children and is adamant that he would love a baby girl –one day. There is no doubt, that with everything he has achieved and his motto of “making a commitment to bring about a positive change” that he will take this in his stride too. Soaking up, as he puts it, parenthood when that day arrives. What a lucky girl it will be.
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Bernadette Erasmus writes a blog Kaleidoscope