Challenges: MPF percentile
20%
Seasons: 1 | Days played: 35 | Wins: 0 | Jury: 1
- SurvivorSA 7: Island of Secrets (2019) - 6th place, 16th out - 8th juror.
- Voted out in Episode 16 (Day 35).
- Visited Island of Secrets one time. Cumulative time: In-game - 34.5 days; IoS - 0.5 days.
Mike Venter on social media: Instagram
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| SA7: Island of Secrets | 2.28 | 11.23 | 0.20 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 0.55 | 1.94 | - | - | - | 0.75 | 4.23 |
| Career | 2.28 | 11.23 | 0.20 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 0.55 | 1.94 | - | - | - | 0.75 | 4.23 |
Mike Venter - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
54%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
84%
Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:
1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";
2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and
3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."
See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.
Mike Venter - Challenge record
SA 7: Island of Secrets challenges 
Tribal/team challenge record (5-for-14; 4 2nds; 1 sit-out):
- [SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.1 RC - Blindfolded, helps gather supplies (not counted as a challenge).]
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.1 IC - Helps disassemble, carry, and re-assemble puzzle pieces, Laumei doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.2 RC/IC - Helps lift the bag of coconuts, as Laumei wins chickens (1st/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.3 RC/IC "Mud Slide" - Loses one match-up, but Laumei doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.4 RC/IC - Tosses sandbags with Steffi, and Sa'ula doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.5 RC "Concentration" - Not shown making a match, and Sa'ula loses (3rd/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.5 IC - Grabs a tile and moves it through the puzzle; Sa'ula eventually doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.6 RC - Fires the slingshot and makes no catches, and Sa'ula loses.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.6 IC - Sits out, as Sa'ula wins.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.7 RC "Spoon Man" - Helps transfer the balls along, and Ta'alo wins.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.7 IC "Hot Pursuit" - Carries his own bag for Ta'alo, but Ta'alo loses.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.8 RC "Kicking and Screaming" - Pole-holder for the first point; Ta'alo wins, 3-0.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.8 IC - First ball carrier, Ta'alo takes a lead and eventually, Ta'alo wins.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.10 RC - Navigates the obstacles, but part of the non-winning teal team.
- SA: Island of Secrets: Ep.11 RC/IC - With Dante and Jacques, part of the yellow winning team.
Individual challenge record (1-for-8): (Mean % finish: 42.5%)
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 9 IC: "When It Rains" - Third person to drop out, fairly quickly (11th/13).
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 10 IC: "Last Gasp" - Third person to drop out (7th/12).
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 12 RC: (Cylinders) - Eliminated in the first round (tie-8th/10).
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 12 IC: "Flash Back" - Second person out, on the 6th symbol in Round 1 (tie-8th/10).
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 13 IC: (Bow, snake maze) - One of three to not reach the snake maze (tie-7th/9).
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 14 IC: (Keys, puzzle) - Working on the puzzle as Nicole wins (tie-3rd/8).
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 15 IC: "Teeter Tower" - Ends up in a tight race with Rob, and Mike wins! (1st/7).
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 16 RC/IC: (Loved ones) - One of five people with no blocks down as Rob wins (tie-2nd/6).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-1): (Mean % finish: 80%)
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 13 RC: Drops out voluntarily to let Steffi win letters from home (2nd/5).
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 5 |
| 2nd place: | 4 |
| Played: | 14 |
| Win%: | 0.50 |
| Sat out: | 1 |
| Wins: | 1 |
| Played: | 8 |
| Win%: | 0.13 |
| Mean % Finish: | 42.5% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 1 |
| Win%: | 0.00 |
| Mean % Finish: | 80% |
Mike Venter - Tribal Council record
SA 7: Island of Secrets Tribal 
Idols held/played (0/0):
- SA: Island of Secrets: None.
VFB - Votes for the person booted (5/9):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep7 | Rocco | Rocco van Rooyen (voted out, 6-1) | Yes |
| Ep9 | Meryl | Meryl Szolkiewicz (voted out, 7-6) | Yes |
| Ep10 | Geoffrey | Geoffrey Cooke-Tonnesen (voted out, 9-2-1) | Yes |
| Ep11 | Seipei | Seipei Mashugane (voted out, 7-2-1-1) | Yes |
| Ep12 | Jacques | Dante de Villiers (voted out, 5-3-1-1) | - |
| Ep13 | Cobus | Cobus Hugo (voted out, 5-2-2) | Yes |
| Ep14 | Jacques | Mmaba Molefe (voted out, 5-[0]-1) | - |
| Ep15 | Steffi | Jacques Burger (voted out, 4-3) | - |
| Ep16 | Nicole | Mike Venter (voted out, 4-1-1) | - |
| 9 | TOTALS | 5 | |
VAP - Votes against (4):
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 16: Four votes, from Laetitia, Nicole, Rob, and Steffi (voted out, 4-1-1).
Jury votes made (1/1):
- SA: Island of Secrets, Ep. 18: Voted for Rob Bentele, who won (6-4-0).
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Advantages held/played: | 0/0 |
| Idols found: | 0 |
| Idols played: | - |
| Votes voided: | - |
| VFB: | 5 |
| Tribals: | 9 |
| VAP: | 4 |
| Made: | 1 |
| For winners: | 1 |
| Received: | - |
Mike Venter - Pictures
SA 7: Island of Secrets image gallery -
Island of Secrets intro shot -
Island of Secrets intro shot -
On the boat, Day 1 -
Greeting Nico -
The original Laumei tribe -
Opening sequence confessional -
Starting line, Ep1 RC -
Rocco finally gets to camp, Day 2 -
Listening to Rocco's all-dudes alliance proposal -
Eh, I'd rather not -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 IC -
Starting line -
Everyone still working on the puzzle -
Laumei doesn't lose! -
Birth of a non-Rocco four-person Laumei alliance, Ep2 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC/IC -
Hoisting coconuts -
Laumei wins! Immunity and reward! -
Back in camp, now with chickens -
Alerting Laumei to the return of their friend, the Sun, Ep3 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC/IC -
With Durao, not scoring a point -
Watching Rocco secure second place -
Laumei doesn't lose! -
Pre-swap lineup, Ep7 -
The new new Ta'alo tribe -
Moving balls along, Ep7 RC -
Ta'alo wins reward! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep7 IC -
Ta'alo, about to get caught -
Heading to Tribal for the first time -
Ta'alo, Ep7 Tribal Council -
Talking to Nico -
Solidifying an alliance with Rob, Ep8 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 RC -
Watching Ta'alo score -
Ta'alo wins reward. Cheers! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC -
Watching the wheel maze -
Ta'alo wins immunity! -
Ready to merge, Ep9 -
Thrilled to make the merge, etc. -
Merge feasting -
Re-connecting with Geoff and Mmaba -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep9 IC -
Starting line -
Waiting for it to end -
Bringing together Rob and the Laumei men -
Talking about the plans for Tribal -
Manumalo, Ep9 Tribal Council -
Listening to Meryl -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 RC -
Teal team, ready to go -
Watching Rob fling discs -
Laetitia contemplates quitting -
Warning Geoffrey that his name has come up -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 IC -
Starting line -
Not happy about having to vote out his ally, Geoff -
Heading to Tribal -
Manumalo, Ep10 Tribal Council -
Listening to Durao -
Listening to treemail, Ep11 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 IC -
Yellow team, ready to go -
Yellow team, leading -
Yellow team wins! Three necklaces! -
Also a reward feast! -
Grateful for the reward -
Cheers! -
Listening to Dante's orders -
Manumalo, Ep11 Tribal Council -
Listening to Dante -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep12 RC -
Starting line -
Watching the final round -
Freshly picked to join Dante on reward -
Reward feasting -
Late-night reward strategizing -
Talking about the reward and Dante's plan -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep12 IC -
Manumalo, Ep12 Tribal Council -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep13 RC -
Starting line, duel for letters from home -
Still going... -
Hoping I did the right thing in letting Steffi win -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep13 IC -
Starting line -
Making some progress... -
Guys, we need to make a move soon... -
Plotting with Jacques -
Manumalo, Ep13 Tribal Council -
Jacques is *not* playing his idol for Cobus -
Feeling bad about Jacques being the camp pariah, Ep14 -
Reading treemail -
Making a totally leak-free alliance with Durao -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep14 IC -
Starting line -
Manumalo, Ep14 Tribal Council -
Oh, well Jacques is safe now. Let's still vote for him... -
Worried about being a dead man walking as soon as Jacques leaves, Ep15 -
Perhaps dead man lying -
Listening to treemail... auction? -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep15 RC -
Not quite an auction, as Nicole gets stuff for free -
Selections complete? -
Plotting with Durao and Jacques -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep15 IC -
Starting line -
Almost there... -
Mike wins immunity! -
Happy to be safe tonight -
Rob plans to target Steffi at the next vote -
Wait, go ahead and vote Steffi tonight anyway -
Manumalo, Ep15 Tribal Council -
Listening to Nico read the votes -
Listening to the Ep16 IC treemail -
Pre-challenge lineup... the loved ones are here! -
Talking with his dad -
Talking about how much the visit meant -
Already falling behind Rob -
Hoping to get picked for reward -
Nope. Sent to IoS for the day, instead -
Talking about how much this sucks -
Heading to Tribal -
Manumalo, Ep16 Tribal Council -
Listening to Rob -
I knew you were coming for me, Mike -
Durao maybe comes to a realization -
Sixteenth person voted out, and the eighth member of our jury... -
Snuffed, Day 35 (Episode 16) -
With the jury, Final Tribal Council -
Waiting for the vote reveal -
Full cast, reunion show
Mike Venter - Interviews
SA 7: Island of Secrets interviews Pre-game interviews
- M-Net pre-game interview video (Instagram).
- M-Net official bio page.
Post-game interviews
- El Broide at People.co.za (8/30/19): "Mike Venter Reflects on His Survivor SA Journey"
Mike Venter - Bio
SA 7: Island of Secrets bio Official M-Net Island of Secrets bio excerpts (May, 2019):
"Energetic, optimistic, exuberant and motormouth-millennial, Mike is the youngest of the Survivors in the South African show’s seventh season. While studying law, Mike started pursuing a career in radio, first honing his skills at varsity radio station Voice of Wits and now doing a stint on EastCoast Radio. If someone can change the world, it’s Mike! Being an intelligent only-child from a middle-class family, Mike excelled at a prestigious boys’ school where he was head prefect in Matric, but it’s also important for him to debate socio-political issues, challenge conventional ways of thinking and questions the status quo. “It’s time for the youth to stand up and claim their place in the sun – by winning Survivor,” he says. Only problem is he can’t sleep without taking a hot bath and gets “hangry” by 9:30 in the morning. But maybe he’s just joking – because it’s obvious that he can talk a good game and likes a smile on his face."