[WATCH] Mall car contest revs competing couples’ engines
If all three couples go the distance, a lucky draw on Saturday, 24 June will determine the winners.
Six days in, the three couples who are living inside a car at Galleria Mall in the hopes of winning it, are showing slight signs of strain.
Now in their sixth day after taking up hotseats in the Haval H2 car on Friday, 25 May at 3pm, spirits seem high and so far everyone seems to be getting along. All they have to do is live in the ride for longer than any of the other two couples in order to drive off in the new set of wheels.
The couples are allowed only a 15-minute break every three hours. “So far, so good,” they all said of their adventure when the SUN visited them on Wednesday morning, 30 May. “We are now in our 111th hour. We had our first bit of drama last night.” Mum’s the word on exactly what went down. Readers are encouraged to watch the live feed on the website www.galleria.co.za to keep up to date with all the goings-on in the small-sized SUV-style car.
“The worst part is the middle seat in the back,” everyone agreed. The couples rotate places after their three-hourly break but the tallest person in the car, Layton Oliphant is taking the most strain. Two sit in the front, three in the back and one in the boot. They have humorously dubbed the areas first class (front seats), cuddles bay (the back seat) and bunker (the boot).
Meet the couples:
Letoya and Layton Oliphant
These high school sweethearts have been together for 17 years and have a 10-old child. Letoya who is set on winning the car for her husband, is patient, loving and energetic, while Layton is an over-thinker with a financial brain. Netflix and the couch is their favourite pastime, so sitting it out in the car to win it, is likely to be child’s play!
Sharen and King Coetzee
Charismatic and strong-willed Sharen drove to the mall at 10pm to submit her competition entries. This tenacious woman was not prepared to take any chance as she firmly believes the car is hers! The Coetzees are geared to do whatever it takes to drive away in the car. The ultra-determined and aptly named King is good with numbers and fixated on achieving what he sets his mind to, so winning the ride should be a cinch!
Preantha Pillay and Shameer Mannilal
Both confess it was love at first sight when they first got together three years ago. While they’re quiet and conservative, they are very comfortable with each other. Shared jokes and hushed tones are the glue that keeps them entertained for hours on end, and they believe this will set them apart.
Another boo from the group is being woken up every three hours for their break. “It was hard to sleep the first three days but now we’re used to it. “The best part has been our sponsors, who have treated us very well, and the food we are served. The security guards have also all been fantastic.”
D-Day is 23 June and all three couples are confident they will go the distance. If that happens, a lucky draw on Saturday, 24 June will determine the winners. With Sharen and King Coetzee the only Toti couple in the mix, it is fair to say who locals are cheering on.
