- Wiseman Mncube and his partner Ashay Sewlall became the second team eliminated from Tropika Island of Treasure Season 12
- The duo lost the 'Ball Track' elimination challenge against two other teams on Réunion Island
- Wiseman opened up about what went wrong for Team Pineapple and the lessons he is taking from the experience
Source: Facebook
The beloved South African actor Wiseman Mncube's run on Tropika Island of Treasure has come to an end. On 23 October 2026, Team Pineapple, made up of Wiseman and his partner Ashay Sewlall, became the second team to be eliminated from Season 12 of the popular reality show filmed on Réunion Island.
Their exit was sealed after picking the dreaded red pineapple at the Sunset Ceremony, which thrust them into an elimination face-off against Team Tropical (Francois Hougaard and Iana Strydom) and Team Green Apple (Nadia Nakai and Andile Khuluse).
The challenge that ended it all
The three teams competed in 'Ball Track', a test of patience, balance, and concentration. Despite approaching the game with trademark calm, Team Pineapple finished last and were officially sent home. Wiseman admitted that their relaxed nature, usually an asset, ultimately worked against them.
"I think we were a little too relaxed and laid-back for our own good. We got into our heads, and in a way, we became so comfortable that we almost forgot the magnitude of the situation," he said.
He added that the game was deceptive in its simplicity.
"At first glance, it looked like a simple game. It was easy on the eye, but once I actually started playing, I realised just how challenging it was."
Reality TV vs scripted acting
For Wiseman, better known for his scripted roles, competing on a reality show was an eye-opening contrast. "When you're playing a character, there's a script, there's preparation, and you have a character to step into. With reality television, there's none of that," he explained.
He noted that as an actor, he was accustomed to having a level of control that simply does not exist in the reality TV format. Learning to embrace unpredictability and staying mic'd up around the clock were among the adjustments he had to make.
Despite the early exit, Wiseman reflected warmly on his partnership with Ashay.
"If you remember the first episode, I was actually penalised for not wanting to change partners, and that was because Ashay and I had connected so naturally from the beginning.”
Away from the competition, seeing dolphins during the filming experience left a lasting impression on him.
"It was such a beautiful experience and something I'll always remember."
As for the biggest lesson he is carrying back home, Wiseman put it plainly:
"If you really want something, you have to be willing to fight for it. Sometimes, simply wanting something isn't enough. You have to be intentional about it."
With 2026 drawing to a close, the actor says he is keeping busy on set and plans to finish the year strong. Tropika Island of Treasure airs every Wednesday at 21:00 on SABC 1, with a repeat every Thursday at 18:00 on S3.
Zanele Potelwa hosted Tropika Island
Zanele Potelwa returned as host of Tropika Island of Treasure Season 12, filmed on Réunion Island.
The host revealed what surprised her most about this season's cast and their bonds with each other.
Source: Briefly News
Authors:
Hot: