Idols SA season 13 took place in 2017, the winner was Paxton Fielies and the runner-up was Mthokozisi Ndaba.
It was hosted by ProVerb, the judges were Randall Abrahams, Unathi Nkayi, and Somizi Mhlongo.
The season aired for four months from July to November 2017, and an episode of the show was broadcast every Sunday on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) at 17:00.
Idols SA Season 13 Guide
| Host: | ProVerb |
| Judges: | Randall Abrahams, Unathi Nkayi, Somizi Mhlongo |
| Musical Director & In-House Mentor: | Donald |
| Winner: | Paxton Fielies |
| Runner-up: | Mthokozisi Ndaba |
| Grand Finale Venue: | Carnival City |
| Original Network: | Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) |
| Start Date: | Sunday 9 July 2017 |
| End Date: | Sunday 19 November 2017 |
| Number of episodes: | 15 |
List of Contents
Idols SA Season 13 Auditions
Auditions for Idol SA Season 13 kicked off on Saturday 14 January 2017 and ended on Saturday 18 February 2017.
Audition dates and venues
The auditions were held in the following cities;
| City | Venue | Date |
| Cape Town | GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World | Saturday 14 January 2017 |
| Pretoria | The State Theatre | Saturday 21 January 2017 |
| Durban | The Playhouse in Downtown | Saturday 28 January 2017 |
| Johannesburg | Carnival City | Saturday 4 February 2017 |
Due to widespread demand, the auditions were extended to three more cities: Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, and Polokwane. They are known as the Telkom Pop-Up auditions.
| City | Venue | Date |
| Port Elizabeth | The Boardwalk Casino | Saturday 11 February 2017 |
| Bloemfontein | Mimosa Mall | Sunday 12 February 2017 |
| Polokwane | Capricorn FM Studios | Saturday 18 February 2017 |
Finalists
Idols SA Season 13 Top 16 Contestants
The Idols SA Season 13 Top 16 contestants were revealed on Sunday 20 August 2017.
| Contestant | Gender | Hometown |
| Basetsana Kolwane | Female | Klerksdorp |
| Blessed Mlangeni | Female | Nelspruit |
| Botlhale Phora | Male | Ga-Rankuwa |
| Christo Daniels | Male | Port Elizabeth |
| Faith Msibi | Female | Witbank |
| Gabi Du Plessis | Female | Cape Town |
| Gugulethu “Gugu” Zulu | Female | Durban |
| Lindokuhle “Lindo” Sithole | Male | Mandeni |
| Minenhle “Minnie” Ntuli | Female | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Mthokozisi Ndaba | Male | Durban |
| Nokuthula “Hadassah” Makhoba | Female | Pretoria |
| Nomthandazo “Tee” Xaba | Female | Durban |
| Paxton Fielies | Female | Cape Town |
| Phindile “Phindy” Dube | Female | Durban |
| Thapelo Esau | Female | Vosloorus |
| Thokozile Ndimande | Female | Pretoria |
Main Article: Idols SA Season 13 Top 16 Contestants
The Top 16 contestants were then divided into two groups, One and Two.
Group One
Group One contestants performed live on Sunday 27 August 2017.
Theme: “Break Out Hits”
Group Performance: Top 16 Group One performed “Thathi Sgubu” by Bongo Maffin
Guest Performer: Sands performed “Tigi”
| Contestant | Song Choice | Result |
| Blessed | “Promises” by Brenda Fassie | Eliminated |
| Christo | “Versace on Floor” by Bruno Mars | Advanced |
| Faith | “Memeza” by Vusi Nova | Advanced |
| Gugu Zulu | “There’s Music in the Air” by Letta Mbulu | Eliminated |
| Lindo | “Lifetime” by Maxwell | Advanced |
| Paxton | “Here” by Alessia Cara | Advanced |
| Phindy | “Chasing Pavements” by Adele | Advanced |
| Thokozile | “Dangerously in Love” by Beyonce | Advanced |
Group Two
Group Two contestants performed live on Sunday 3 September 2017.
Theme: “Break Out Hits”
Group Performance: Top 16 Group Two performed “Doo Wop (That Thing)” by Lauryn Hill
Guest Performer: Lady Zamar performed “Love is Blind” and “My Baby”
| Contestant | Song Choice | Result |
| Basetsana | “Umthwalo” by Zahara | Eliminated |
| Botlhale | “I Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd | Advanced |
| Gabi | “Nobody Love” by Tori Kelly | Eliminated |
| Hadassah | “Golden” by Jill Scott | Eliminated |
| Minnie | “Vulindlela” by Brenda Fassie | Eliminated |
| Mthokozisi | “I Wanna Know” by Joe | Advanced |
| Tee | “Qinisela” by Kelly Khumalo | Advanced |
| Thapelo | “Love and War” by Tamar Braxton | Advanced |
Idols SA Season 13 Top 10
The Idols SA Season 13 Top 10 contestants were revealed on Sunday 10 September 2017.
Performances Of The Evening:
- Group One performed “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars
- Group Two performed “Fantasy” by Black Box
Guest Performers:
- Bhizer featuring Busiswa, S.C Gorna, and Trigger Bhepepe performed “Gobisiqolo”
- Vusi Nova performed “Ndikuthandile”
- Sun-El Musician and Samthing Soweto performed “Akanamali”
- B3nchMarQ
- Donald and Tiwa Savage performed “Raindrops”
In order to book spots in the Top 9, the Top 10 contestants then performed a week later on Sunday 17 September 2017.
Theme: “Judges’ Choice”
| Contestant | Song Choice | Result |
| Mthokozisi | “Love Me Now” by John Legend | Advanced |
| Tee | “Hamba” by Lira | Advanced |
| Botlhale | “Naninina” by Vusi Nova | Advanced |
| Thapelo | “Ndawo Yami” by Zamajobe | Advanced |
| Lindo | “Ordinary People” by John Legend | Advanced |
| Phindy | “1 + 1” by Beyoncé | Advanced |
| Faith | “Kulungile Baba” by Sfiso Ncwane | Advanced |
| Paxton | “Side to Side” by Ariana Grande | Advanced |
| Thokozile | “I’m Going Down” by Mary J Blige | Eliminated |
| Christo | “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross | Advanced |
Idols SA Season 13 Top 9
The Season 13 Top 9 contestants were revealed on Sunday 24 September 2017, they then performed live on this same day.
Theme: “Paying Homage To The Greats”
Group Performance: Top 10 Contestants performed “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
| Contestant | Song Choice | Result |
| Botlhale | “Superstar” by Luther Vandross | Advanced |
| Christo | “I’ll Be There” by Michael Jackson | Advanced |
| Faith | “Always and Forever” by Luther Vandross | Advanced |
| Lindo | “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye | Advanced |
| Mthokozisi | “Made to Love You” by Gerald Levert | Advanced |
| Paxton | “Careless Whisper” by George Michael | Advanced |
| Phindy | “The Way You Make Me Feel” by Michael Jackson | Advanced |
| Tee | “Too Late For Mama” by Brenda Fassie | Advanced |
| Thapelo | “Weekend Special” by Brenda Fassie | Eliminated |
Idols SA Season 13 Top 8
The Top 8 contestants of season 13 were revealed on Sunday 1 October 2017, they then performed live on this same day.
Theme: “Movie Soundtracks”
Group Performance: Top 9 Contestants (backed by Idols South Africa Band and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra) performed “September” by Kirk Franklin
Guest Performer: Sjava
| Contestant | Song Choice | Result |
| Lindo | “Evergreen” by Luther Vandross | Advanced |
| Tee | “Man In The Mirror” by Michael Jackson | Eliminated |
| Christo | “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder | Advanced |
| Faith | “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley | Advanced |
| Mthokozisi | “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly | Advanced |
| Phindy | “Everything I do” by Brain Adams | Advanced |
| Botlhale | “Say You,Say Me” by Lionel Richie | Advanced |
| Paxton | “Over the rainbow” by Judy Garland | Advanced |
Idols SA Season 13 Top 7
Season 13’s Top 7 contestants were announced on Sunday 8 October 2017, they then went ahead to perform live on this same day.
Theme: “Showstopper”
Group Performance: Top 8 Contestants performed “24 Karat” by Bruno Mars
Guest Performers: DreamTeam
| Contestant | Song Choice | Result |
| Botlhale | “Never Let Me Go” by Tressor | Advanced |
| Faith | “What About Us?” by P!nk | Advanced |
| Christo | “Post To Be” by Omarion Ft. Chris Brown | Eliminated |
| Paxton | “Cheap Thrills” by Sia | Advanced |
| Lindo | “Drag Me Down” by One Direction | Advanced |
| Phindy | “Wild Thoughts” by Dj Khaled Ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller | Advanced |
| Mthokozisi | “Caiphus Song” by AKA | Advanced |
Idols SA Season 13 Top 6
The Top 6 contestants of Season 13 were revealed Sunday 15 October 2017, they then performed live for a spot in the Top 5.
Themes:
– “Bring Back Love”
– “How It Should Have Been Done”
| Contestant | First Song | Second Song | Result |
| Botlhale | “Let Me Love You” by Mario | “Feel Good” by Lira | Advanced |
| Faith | “No One” by Alicia Keys | “Nomvula” by Nathi | Advanced |
| Lindo | “Step In The Name Of Love” by R. Kelly | “Ndenzenjani” by Nathi | Eliminated |
| Phindy | “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston | “Focus” by Ariana Grande | Advanced |
| Mthokozisi | “Incomplete” by Sisqo | “Kum Nakum” by Ringo | Advanced |
| Paxton | “Listen” by Beyonce | “Just The Way You Are” by Bruno Mars | Advanced |
The Top 6 contestants and judge Unathi Nkayi were at the Edgars Court at Clearwater Mall on Friday 20 October 2017, from 18:00 to 20:00, for a fans meet and greet session.
Idols SA Season 13 Top 5
Season 13’s Top 5 contestants were announced on Sunday 22 October 2017, they then performed live on this same day.
Themes:
– “Old Made New”
– “Inspirational Choir”
| Contestant | First Song | Second Song | Result |
| Botlhale | “Sedilaka” by The Soil | “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo | Advanced |
| Faith | “Next to Me” by Emeli Sande | “I Believe in You” by Joe | Eliminated |
| Mthokozisi | “The Storm is Over” by R. Kelly | “So Sick” by Ne-Yo | Advanced |
| Paxton | “Stand Up for Love” by Destiny’s Child | “Don’t Walk Away” by Jade | Advanced |
| Phindy | “Butterfly” by Mariah Carey | “Meet Me at the River” by Miriam Makeba | Advanced |
Idols SA Season 13 Top 4
The Top 4 contestants were revealed on Sunday 29 October 2017, after which they performed live for a spot in the Top 3.
Themes:
– “The Year I Was Born”
– “Contemporary Hits”
Group Performance: Top 5 Contestants performed “Freedom” by Pharrell Williams
Guest Performers: Killer Kau and Mbali performed “Tholukuthi Hey”
| Contestant | First Song | Second Song | Result |
| Botlhale | “One Of Us” by Joan Osborne | “One Call Away” by Charlie Puth | Advanced |
| Mthokozisi | “It’s Hard To Say Goodbye” by Boyz II Men | “What Do You Mean?” by Justin Bieber | Advanced |
| Paxton | “I Turn To You” by Christina Aguilera | “In Common” by Alicia Keys | Advanced |
| Phindy | “Sondela” by Ringo Madlingozi | “Sorry” by Beyonce | Eliminated |
Idols South Africa presenter, ProVerb, judge Randall Abrahams and the Top 4 contestants were at the Canvendish Court at Menlyn Mall on Friday 3 November 2017, from 18:00 to 20:00, for a meet and greet session with the fans.
Idols SA Season 13 Top 3
Season 13’s Top 3 contestants were announced on Sunday 5 November 2017, they then performed live.
Themes:
– “My Musical Idol”
– “Duets”
Guest Performer: Okmalumkoolkat
| Contestant | My Musical Idol | Duets | Result |
| Paxton | “Killing Me Softly” by The Fugees | “Stay” by Rihanna Ft. Mikky Ekko (with Kyle Deutsch) | Advanced |
| Mthokozisi | “Nkosiyamakhosi” by Afro Traction | “Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith & John Legend (with Thami) | Advanced |
| Botlhale | “You And I” by John Legend | “Sokwenze Njani” by Naima K & Robbie Malinga (with Amanda Black) | Eliminated |
Top 3 London Trip
Following the live show, the top 3 immediately jetted off to London, the United Kingdom for a short holiday with Capitec Bank for three days whose highlights you can check out at: Day 1 of the London tour, Day 2 of the London tour, Day 3 of the London tour.
The top 3 contestants were also accompanied by Idols SA presenter ProVerb and his girlfriend Liesl Laurie. [ Check out photos of this lovely couple in London ]
Idols SA Season 13 Top 2
The Idols SA Season 13 top 2 (finalists) were revealed on Sunday 12 November 2017, with Mthokozisi Ndaba and Paxton Fielies advancing to the Grand Finale while Botlhale Phora left the show after performing his brand new single titled “Good Enough”.
Themes:
– “New Singles”
– “Theatre Week”
– “Favourite Song Of The Season”
Group Performance: Top 10 Contestants (minus Botlhale, Mthokozisi & Paxton) performed “Believer” by Imagine Dragons
Guest Performer: LaSauce performed “I Do”
| Contestant | New Singles | Theatre Week | Favorite Of The Season | Result |
| Mthokozisi | “Masithandane” | “Mthande” by Musa | “Kum Nakum” by Ringo | Runner-up |
| Paxton | “Demonstrate” | “American Boy” by Estelle | “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by Judy Garland | Winner |
| Botlhale | “Good Enough” | N/A | N/A |
Top 2 Music Videos’ Shoot
The Top 2 contestants, Mthokozisi Ndaba and Paxton Fieles shot music videos for their debut singles, “Masithandane” and “Demonstrate” respectively on Monday 13 November 2017.
Speaking after the video shoot, Mthokozisi spoke with enthusiasm that he had twenty people going back and forth on set and a stunning, love interest played by Kirsten Mohamed.
Mthokozisi also had a great deal of fun, zipping around the set in his Ford Edge.
Meanwhile, Paxton looked gorgeous, striking pose after pose and working the cameras while she sat atop a silver Mustang.
Click to Watch the music video for “Masithandane” by Mthokozisi Ndaba.
Click to Watch the music video for “Demonstrate” by Paxton Fielies.
Idols SA Season 13 Grand Finale
The Idols SA Season 13 Grand Finale took place on Sunday 19 November 2017, with the song choices being revealed on Friday 17 November 2017 two days before the final showdown.
From the dramatic set, resplendent in strobe and laser lights, to the black lacquered stage that made the Top 2 contestants look like they were gliding on water, Carnival City’s Big Top Arena was the perfect setting for the Grand Finale showdown along with a lineup of guest performers.
Performances
- Paxton (accompanied by the Soweto Gospel Choir) : “Stand Up for Love” by Destiny’s Child
- Mthokozisi (accompanied by the Soweto Gospel Choir) : “The Storm Is Over” by R. Kelly
- Top 10 contestants : “Four Five Seconds” by Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney
- Performances from DJ Tira & Destruction Boys, Tipcee, Naak MusiQ, Madness, Season 12 winner Noma, Somizi and Heavy K, Kwesta, TLT, ChianoSky, and KidX.
- Donald and the Top 10 contestants : “Landela”
- Boom Shaka and TKZee also performed a medley of their cool Kwaito hits
- Paxton and Mthokozisi duet : “Back To The Beach” remix by Kyle Deutsch & Shekhinah
- Paxton – “Demonstrate”
Idols SA Season 13 Winner and Runner-up Announcement
After a staggering 30 million-plus votes were cast in the Grand Finale week for the Top 2 contestants, Paxton Fielies was crowned as the winner of Idols SA Season 13 with Mthokozisi Ndaba being the runner-up.
This was also the Idols South Africa season of record-breaking votes, with 98 million votes recorded for the entire Season 13.
Along with being crowned the winner of Idols SA Season 13, Paxton Fielies walked away with a prize package worth R1,500,000.
Idols SA Season 13 Wooden Mic
The Wooden Mic winner of Idols SA Season 13 was Thabiso Msomi from Durban.
Idols SA Season 13’s Top 10 Wooden Mic contenders as chosen by the fans were;
- Thabiso Msomi
- Sithabiso Mkize
- Xolisa Butongo
- Sengiwakhile Mabaso
- Tamanda Zungu
- Thabatso Ledwaba
- UjuIwezinyosi Mthabiseni Masuku
- Modibe Modiba
- Njabulo Phewa
- Johanes Mbambo
Idols SA Season 13 Controversy
Paxton Fielies
After the Top 3 contestants Paxton Fielies, Botlhale Phora and Mthokozisi Ndaba released their debut singles on Sunday 12 November 2017, thousands of people especially South Koreans on social media, accused Paxton Fielies of plagiarizing her song titled “Demonstrate” from Korean K-Pop band, Rania.
However the Idols South Africa endorsed record label, Gallo Record Company, came out and defended Paxton by making it very clear that the contestant had not done anything wrong.
Gallo Record Company released a very clear statement saying that Paxton had recorded the original version of “Demonstrate” as written by Phil Bentley, Aimee Proal and Brian Kierulf, adding minor lyrical adaptations to make the song her own.
These changes were presented to all three composers in the USA, who collectively endorsed Paxton’s changes, supported her making the song her own and fully backed her version of the original song.
Main Article: Read Gallo Record Company’s Statement Defending Paxton On Her Version of “Demonstrate”
Mthokozisi Ndaba
At the end of the Grand Finale show, Mthokozisi immediately walked off the stage after Paxton Fielies was announced by ProVerb as the winner of Idols SA Season 13.
Mthokozisi didn’t even congratulate Paxton as he couldn’t deal with the loss.
Ndaba further refused to attend the mandatory MultiChoice/DSTV press conference after the Grand Finale, in addition to rejecting all requests for interviews.
As a result, he was criticized by fans of the show for behaving childishly and being a sore loser.
On Saturday 25 November 2017, Mthokozisi finally spoke for the first time since the Grand Finale, he apologized for behaving poorly because he didn’t win Idols South Africa and denied being a sore loser.
Mthokozisi wasn’t done yet, a young lady on social media then claimed that Ndaba had physically assaulted her on Friday 24 November 2017 in Braamfontein.
Neo Tsele, who was 20 years old at the time, shared photos of her battered and bruised face on Instagram on Saturday 25 November 2017, accusing Mthokozisi of being the culprit.
The Idols SA star then responded to the allegation by being surprised and denying any wrongdoing, he further released a statement urging his fans not to bully his accuser, but to rather let the law take its course.
Sergeant Mduduzi Zondo, a spokesperson for the Hillbrow Police Station confirmed that Mthokozisi was scheduled to appear in court on Monday 4 December 2017, on the assault charges leveled against him.
However, no further updates were ever released about the case.
On Monday 11 December 2017, Neo Tsele, Mthokozisi’s accuser revealed that the charges leveled against Nbada were withdrawn without her knowledge.
Twenty year old Tsele expressed her disappointment with the fact that Mthokozisi was let free.
Season chronology:
« ( Season 12 ) Previous | Next ( Season 14 ) »
READ NEXT:
› Idols SA Winners: Where Are They Now?
› Idols SA Presenters From Season 1 To Date
› American Idol 2023 Contestants
