Saktyd
Saktyd is a South African reality television show, which aired on the Afrikaans television channel kykNET on DStv between 17 July 2012 and 9 October 2012. In Afrikaans, the word ʽsaktydʼ refers to the time that a magazine or newspaper is sent to a printer to be printed.
The show was set in the offices of South Africa's biggest, oldest and most well-known family and general interest magazine, Huisgenoot, whose editorial team gave 13 delegates the chance to win the job of a lifetime as a journalist at the magazine. The show aired on Tuesdays at 19:30, and was repeated five times during the week: Wednesdays at 10:30, Fridays at 00:00 and 22:00, Saturdays at 15:30 and Sundays at 09:00.
In the show's finale on 9 October 2012, the 26-year-old proofreader and copywriter Christiaan Boonzaier from Cape Town was declared the winner in front of an audience of 6000 people.
Rationale
According to kykNET's marketing manager, Haddad Viljoen, the concept for the show was formulated by Huisgenoot, kykNET and the show's production company, Homebrew Films; Viljoen added that the show is a first for South Africa. However, in an article about the show, Haidee Muller – Huisgenoot reporter and Saktyd judge – was of the opinion that the show is the brain-child of Esmaré Weideman, CEO of Media24 and previous editor-in-chief of Huisgenoot, YOU and Drum magazines. In turn, Weideman commented that the idea for Saktyd was born from readers and fans of the magazine, who wanted a behind-the-scenes look of what it takes to write a story for Huisgenoot. At the same time, the Huisgenoot editorial team, according to Saktyd's head judge, Izelle Venter is also continually looking for the best talent to work for the magazine. Therefore, the show gave viewers a peek into the pressure-filled world of weekly magazine journalism, while concurrently searching for the next wave of talent in South African magazine journalism.Format
Saktyd's format was no different than other reality TV shows: In every episode of the 13-episode first season, challenges tested basic skills needed by a successful journalist in the world of magazine journalism. Although it was initially reported that the judges would send the contestants packing one by one, two revelations were revealed in Episode 3 :- the losing team in each challenge was sent to "Die Hok", where they got the chance to explain why they should stay in the show, and
- the contestants got an opportunity in The Chamber to vote their fellow contestants out of the show.
Judges
- Izelle Venter – Editor-in-chief
- Wicus Pretorius – Deputy Editor
- Haidee Muller – Reporter
Prizes
Contestants
| Name | Age♠ | Resident | Profession |
| Astrid Lippert-Fisher | 32 | Muizenberg | Coordinator at In Country |
| Christiaan Boonzaier | 26 | Cape Town | Proofreader / Copywriter |
| Christian Lee | 23 | Johannesburg | Producer, coordinator, stylist, master of ceremonies, artist |
| Elridus Grobler | 26 | Bellville | Photographer |
| Jeannie Erasmus | 22 | Potchefstroom | Student |
| Jolene Fransman | 31 | Cape Town | Researcher |
| Jurie Prins | 32 | Franschhoek | Owner of a production company and part-time radio broadcaster |
| Laura Stopforth | 23 | Stellenbosch | Works for an NGO |
| Leilani Snyman | 37 | Witwatersrand | Owner of a marketing company |
| Leon Flemmer | 35 | Middelburg | Correctional Services |
| Leveinia Botha | 42 | George | Consultant in Human Resources at the George Municipality |
| Lilian Strauss | 23 | Cape Town | Student |
| Tercia Jacobs | 27 | Gordon's Bay | Au pair |
- ♠ At the time of recording.
- ♣ Afrikaans word for 'Red Beard' — a nickname given to Christiaan Boonzaier by judge Wicus Pretorius in Episode 2, to differentiate him from Christian Lee, another contestant with the same name.
Elimination Table
The contestant that is eliminated appears at the bottom of the table in the week he/she left the show, while the contestants still in the game are collated alphabetically, according to name.
| Contestant | Week 1♦ | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7♦ | Week 8 | Week 9♥ | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 |
| Christiaan Boonzaier | |||||||||||||
| Astrid Lippert-Fisher | |||||||||||||
| Jeannie Erasmus | - | ||||||||||||
| Jurie Prins | - | - | |||||||||||
| Jolene Fransman | - | - | - | ||||||||||
| Christian Lee | - | - | - | - | |||||||||
| Laura Stopforth | - | - | - | - | |||||||||
| Leilani Snyman | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||
| Tercia Jacobs | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Elridus Grobler | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Lilian Strauss | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Leon Flemmer | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
| Leveinia Botha | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- ♦ No contestant was eliminated in this episode.
- ♥ Two contestants were eliminated in this episode.
Episode summaries
Episode 1
In the first episode, Saktyd's three judges are introduced – Izelle Venter, Wicus Pretorius en Haidee Muller. Viewers get to know them a bit, and all three name the qualities they are looking for in the perfect candidate. Izelle takes viewers on a tour of the Huisgenoot office, which occupies two full floors in the Naspers building in Cape Town. Key members out of the 150-member editorial team also introduce themselves to viewers, and explain what their roles at the magazine are.Then, the programme focuses on the audition phase of the competition. Although over 1000 entries were received, only a top-100 were invited to auditions. Some auditionees sing, while one contestant tries to bribe the judges with sweets; some contestants fail to identify Gill Marcus, Maria Ramos, Zahara and Angie Motshekga, while most struggle to spell the words 'onmiddellik' and 'Franschhoek' in front of the judges.
Finally, only 13 delegates are selected to take part in the programme. The top-13 introduce themselves to the judges and the viewers. Izelle then announces that viewers will get to know the contestants more in-depth in the next episode.
• Eliminated: No contestant was eliminated in the first episode.
Episode 2
The second episode opens with in-depth profiles of the 13 finalists; the diverse group is introduced at their homes, on a golf course, in the gym and at the beach.Thereafter, Izelle announces that a cocktail party will be held in honour of the 13 finalists. The party, which was held on the roof of the Naspers building, is star-studded with South African celebrities and influential people in the media. After a short introduction, the contestants get the chance to mingle with the guests. What the contestants do not know, however, is that they are already busy with a challenge — one that will send the weakest contestant home. It is only after the party that Izelle shares with the contestants that they would have to write a 350-word article in 30 minutes by hand, using information they should have garnered as journalists from celebrity guests at the party. Izelle adds that the weakest contestant will leave the competition immediately.
After 30 minutes, the articles are handed to the judges, who heavily criticise the contestants: Izelle notes that many of the finalists did not listen to the expectation of the assignment, while other contestants wrote about themselves when they were supposed to write about the celebrity guests. Wicus said that the articles make him nauseous.
In front of the contestants, Jeannie is singled out for an outstanding article, while Christiaan , Leilani and Jurie are described as disappointing. Eventually, Leveinia is eliminated from the competition, after Izelle comments that there wasn't one single sentence in her article that could be published.
• Eliminated: Leveinia Botha.