The brand new £1.2million Love Island mansion in South Africa overlooks the prison where Nelson Mandela was serving a sentence, it has been reported.
While the singletons of the upcoming winter series will be hoping to find love in the swanky apartment, the mood may be dampened somewhat thanks to the prospect of the prison where the former president was serving the latter part of his 27-year sentence, The Spiegel reports .
Mandela was being held in Drakenstein Prison – formerly known as Victor Verster Prison – for the final 14 months of his sentence. He was imprisoned for opposing South Africa’s apartheid system.
View: The brand new £1.2million Love Island mansion in South Africa overlooks the prison where Nelson Mandela was serving a sentence, it has been reported
Located on the outskirts of Cape Town, Drakenstein Prison is home to killers, including serial killers.
The prison has even housed notorious killers, including triple ax murderer Henri van Breda, who was found guilty of murdering his parents and brother in May 2018.
Meanwhile, the prison was raided overnight over the Christmas period to combat rising crime, with police seizing illegal goods including mobile phones, cash, electric cables and chargers.
Historical: Mandela was held in Drakenstein Prison – formerly known as Victor Verster Prison – for the final 14 months of his sentence. He was imprisoned for opposing South Africa’s apartheid system
Despite its unfortunate neighbors, the oversized luxury eco-retreat still boasts stunning mountain views and is nestled in a ‘protected area’ in the heart of the Franschhoek Wine Valley on South Africa’s ‘Millionaire Row’.
Web has reached out to Love Island officials for comment.
Love Island’s winter 2023 series is set to launch on ITV2 on Monday 16 January.
Oh no: While the singletons of the upcoming winter series hope to find love in the swanky abode, the mood might be killed a little thanks to the view of the prison where the former president served the latter part of his 27-year sentence
Ahead of the series, new Love Island presenter Maya Jama is already offering some advice to upcoming contestants as she urges them to take some time off social media as they come to terms with newfound fame.
The 28-year-old presenter explained that she can “use it for the best parts” to avoid negativity online while sharing her own tips and tricks.
It comes after the ITV2 dating show revealed they have updated their due diligence policy and enforced a new social media ban while the contestants are at the villa.
New host: Maya Jama offered advice to the new Love Island contestants on Friday as she urged them to take some time off social media
Maya appeared on This Morning on Friday and chatted with hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary about the upcoming series.
And the presenter duo was keen to know what advice she had for being in the public eye online.
She explained: “If you’re already a social media user use it for fun, if you don’t want the extra stuff take some time. Mute people you don’t want to see.
“I have it so I can only see my close friends on Instagram, so I live in this happy bubble. If you can use it for the best parts, it’s a good combo.
Tips: The presenter explained that they can “use it for the best parts” to avoid negativity online as she shared her own tips and tricks
The new Love Island rules mean ITV2 will ban the islanders’ social media activities during the show and offer enhanced training on how to behave in relationships after a controversial summer series.
In previous seasons, families and friends were named to islanders’ social media accounts — often on their behalf.
But now ITV has said a comprehensive package of social measures for program contributors remains in place to ensure stars receive full support before, during and after filming.
As part of expanded measures to protect islanders and their families from “the adverse effects of social media,” contestants are asked to pause their handles and accounts on their social media platforms for the duration of their time on the show.
Talk show: Maya appeared on This Morning on Friday and chatted with presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary about the upcoming show