Thimna Shooto and Libhongo-Lethu ‘Libho’ Geza have emerged winners of the first season of M-Net’s popular reality dating series Love Island SA, taking away a cash prize of R1m.

South Africa-based blogger TV With Thinus reported that the winning couple had over 53% of the total 1.6 million votes that were cast over the past week by viewers.

The remaining final couples were Millie Terblanche and Asad Boomgaard, with over 30% of the vote share, followed by Mischka Najar and Xavier Haupt with over 12% and Ross Marshall and Tania Kera with over 2%.

Libho said: “I had already won when I picked her, this is just the icing on the cake. I feel great. To be honest, it hasn’t sunk in yet. But my biggest prize is being able to call Thimna my girlfriend.

“I am here for love and chose to split the money with her. I have no regrets because I ended up with the love of my life, so I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Thimna added: “I am so grateful to everyone who voted for Libho and I. My experience has been such an eye-opener. I realised so many things – good and bad – and I am so grateful for the lessons.”

Love Island SA is produced by Rapid Blue and was adapted from the ITV Studios format.

tagged in: ITV Studios, Libhongo-Lethu ‘Libho’ Geza, Love Island SA, Thimna Shooto