Idols SA Season 14

Idols SA season 14 took place in 2018, the winner was Yanga Sobetwa and the runner-up was Thato Makape. It was hosted by ProVerb, the judges were Unathi Nkayi, Randall Abrahams and Somizi Mhlongo.

Idols SA Season 14 Season Summary

Host:	ProVerb
Judges:	Unathi Nkayi, Randall Abrahams and Somizi Mhlongo
Winner:	Yanga Sobetwa
Runner-up:	Thato Makape
Grand Finale Venue:	Carnival City
Original Network:	Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161)
Start Date:	Sunday 8 July 2018
End Date:	Sunday 18 November 2018

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Idols SA Season 14 Auditions

The season 14 Auditions kicked off on Saturday 20 January 2018 and ended on Saturday 3 March 2018.

Audition dates and venues

City	Venue	Date
Durban	North Beach Amphitheatre	Saturday 20 January 2018
Cape Town	Century City Conference Centre	Saturday 27 January 2018
Pretoria	The State Theatre	Saturday 10 February 2018
Johannesburg	Carnival City	Saturday 24 February 2018

Just like in the previous year, Telkom Pop Up auditions were also held in a way that auditions were extended to three other cities due to widespread demand.

Telkom Pop Up Auditions:

City	Venue	Date
Bloemfontein	Mimosa Mall	Saturday 3 February 2018
Port Elizabeth	Boardwalk Casino & Hotel	Saturday 17 February 2018
Polokwane	Savannah Mall	Saturday 3 March 2018

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 31

Idols SA season 14 Top 31 contestants had their Solo performances of Theatre Week on Sunday 12 August 2018.

Contestant	Song	Result
Xae	“Like You’ll Never See Me Again” by Alicia Keys	Advanced
Blessed	“I Learned From The Best” by Whitney Houston	Eliminated
Vanessa	“Crazy In Love” by Beyoncé Ft. Jay-Z	Eliminated
Miche	“For You I Will” by Monica	Eliminated
Wattahmelon	“How Come You Don’t Call Me” by Alicia Keys	Advanced
Sandile	“Ngeke Ndiphinde” by Jaziel Brothers	Advanced
Mnqobi	“All That I Am” by Joe	Advanced
Lincoln	“Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber	Advanced
Niyaaz	“Jealous” by Nick Jonas	Advanced
Yanga	“Heaven” by Emeli Sandé	Advanced
Sibongiseni	“Kiss It Better” by Rihanna	Eliminated
Moses	“Miss Independent” by Ne-Yo	Eliminated
Nolitha	“If I Don’t Have You” by Tamar Braxton	Eliminated
Thatho	“I’m Not The Only One” by Sam Smith	Advanced
Victor	“Ndikuthandile” by Vusi Nova	Advanced
Thando	“Turn Your Lights Down Low” by Bob Marley Ft. Lauryn Hill	Advanced
King B	“At Last” by Etta James	Advanced
Bongiwe	“Almost Doesn’t Count” by Brandy	Advanced
Xola	“You Put A Move On My Heart” by Tamia	Eliminated
Mthokozisi	“Dominoes” by Brian Temba	Advanced
Nosipho	“Don’t Stop The Music” by Rihanna	Advanced
Nqoba	“Ndawo Yami” by Zamajobe	Eliminated
Treasure	“I Feel It Coming” by The Weeknd Ft. Daft Punk	Eliminated
Fu’aad	“Sexy Love” by Ne-Yo	Eliminated
Gina	“Spanish Guitar” by Toni Braxton	Eliminated
Snenhlanhla	“This Time” by John Legend	Eliminated
Black Pepper	“Uthando” by Kelly Khumalo	Eliminated
Andy Keys	“Back At One” by Brian McKnight	Eliminated
Junior	“You Make Me Wanna” by Usher	Eliminated
Dalene	“Be Without You” by Mary J. Blige	Advanced
Ntokozo	“Back To Black” by Amy Winehouse	Advanced

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Idols SA Season 14 Finalists

Idols SA Season 14 Top 16

The Idols SA season 14 Top 16 contestants were revealed on Sunday 19 August 2018.

Contestant	Age	Hometown
Basimane Melato (King B)	20	Kagiso
Bongiwe Mdaka	23	Melelani, Mpumalanga
Dalene Swartz	21	Eldorado Park, Johannesburg
Lethabo Ramatsui (Wattahmelon)	18	Atteridgeville, Pretoria
Lincoln Lewis	22	Ravensmead, Cape Flats
Mnqobi Dlamini	21	Piet Retief
Mthokozisi Ngcobo	20	Umlazi, Durban
Niyaaz Arendse	22	Cape Town
Nosipho Silinda	17	Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Ntokozo Makhathini	18	Witbank
Sandile Skosana	26	Tsakane, Ekurhuleni
Thando Mngomezulu	19	Alberton, Gauteng
Thato Makape	23	Postmasburg, Northern Cape
Victor Matalane	25	Riba Cross, Limpopo
Yanga Sobetwa	16	Delft, Cape Town
Zamagambu Memela (Xae)	19	Pinetown, Durban

Main Article: Idols SA Season 14 Top 16 Contestants

The Idols SA season 14 Top 16 were then divided into two groups, Group A consisting of only male contestants and Group B consisting of only female contestants.

Group A (Males)

Male contestants of the Top 16 performed on Sunday 26 August 2018.

Theme: “Best Selling Male Artists Of The 21st Century”

Group Performances: Top 16 Group A (Males) performed “Treat Her Like A Lady” and “Lady Soul” by The Temptations

Guest Performers: Mlindo The Vocalist and DJ Maphorisa performed “AmaBlesser”

Contestant	Song	Result
Victor Matalane	“Nguwe” by Vusi Nova	Eliminated
Mthokozisi Ngcobo	“So Amazing” by Luther Vandross	Advanced
Mnqobi Dlamini	“Hold on, We’re Going Home” by Drake Ft. Majid Jordan	Eliminated
Sandile Skosana	“Nomvula” by Nathi	Eliminated
Lincoln Lewis	“Writing’s On The Wall” by Sam Smith	Advanced
Thato Makape	“With You” by Chris Brown	Advanced
King B	“Stay with Me” by Sam Smith	Advanced
Niyaaz Arendse	“Mirrors” by Justin Timberlake	Advanced

Group B (Females)

Female contestants of the Top 16 performed on Sunday 2 September 2018.

Theme: “Best Selling Female Artists Of The 21st Century”

Group Performances: Top 16 Group B (Females) performed “Run The World” and “Formation” by Beyoncé

Guest Performers: Shekhinah and Mariechan performed “Different”

Contestant	Song	Result
Thando Mngomezulu	“Giving Myself” by Jennifer Hudson	Advanced
Bongiwe Mdaka	“Beneath Your Beautiful” by Labrinth Ft. Emeli Sandé	Eliminated
Wattahmelon	“Lose To Win” by Fantasia	Eliminated
Nosipho Silinda	“Alive” by Sia	Advanced
Xae	“Broken Clocks” by SZA	Advanced
Yanga Sobetwa	“Don’t You Remember” by Adele	Advanced
Ntokozo Makhathini	“Ndiza” by Zahara	Advanced
Dalene Swartz	“It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” by Whitney Houston	Eliminated

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 10

The Idols SA Season 14 Top 10 contestants were revealed on Sunday 9 September 2018 during a Star-studded live show that saw Idols SA presenter, ProVerb get some help from some of South Africa’s most popular entertainers who provided a bit of reprieve from the tension.

Before the Top 10 contestants were revealed, the judges announced that they would not use their wild card picks this season.

Instead, they gave the voting power to South Africa, and the two contestants with the most votes from the “Maybe” list were put through.

Guest performers of the evening:

• Tipcee and Joejo performed “Fakaza”

• Thami Shobede performed “I Love You”

• Heavy K and Ntombi performed “Let Them Talk”

• Lady Zamar performed “It’s You Dreaming”

• DJ Maphorisa, DJ Raybel, Moonchild Sanelly and Zulu Mkhathini performed “iWalk Ye Phara”

• TDK Macassette

The Top 10 contestants then performed a week later on Sunday 16 September 2018.

Theme: “Judges’ Playlist”

Contestant	Song	Result
Nosipho Silinda	“Collide” by Lady Zamar	Advanced
Mthokozisi Ngcobo	“Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” by Maxwell	Eliminated
Lincoln Lewis	“Sondela” by Ringo Madlingozi	Advanced
Xae	“Please Mr” by Shekhinah	Advanced
Niyaaz Arendse	“Perfect” by Ed Sheeran	Advanced
Ntokozo Makhathini	“Fill Me Up” by Tasha Cobbs	Advanced
Thato Makape	“I Got You” by Encore	Advanced
Thando Mngomezulu	“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin	Advanced
King B	“Love On The Brain” by Rihanna	Advanced
Yanga Sobetwa	“Amazulu” by Amanda Black	Advanced

Top 10 Prizes

Dealing with the pressure and hectic work schedules that come with being an Idols SA contestant is no easy feat, that is why the Top 10 contestants were massively rewarded for their perseverance with some pretty awesome perks valued at over R50,000 courtesy of the Idols SA sponsors, Telkom, Ford, Capitec, Truworths and Yamaha.

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 9

Idols SA Season 14 Top 9 contestants were revealed on Sunday 23 September 2018 and they performed live on the same day.

Theme: “Kicking It Old School”

Group Performance: Top 10 contestants performed “Ndihamba Nawe” by Mafikizolo

Contestant	Song	Result
Lincoln Lewis	“Pony” by Ginuwine	Advanced
Xae	“That’s The Way Love Goes” by Janet Jackson	Advanced
Niyaaz Arendse	“Forever” by Damage	Advanced
Yanga Sobetwa	“Before You Walk Out of My Life” by Monica	Advanced
Thato Makape	“If I Ever Fall in Love” by Shai	Advanced
Thando Mngomezulu	“Bills, Bills, Bills” by Destiny’s Child	Advanced
Nosipho Silinda	“Open Arms” by Mariah Carey	Advanced
Ntokozo Makhathini	“He Wasn’t Man Enough” by Toni Braxton	Eliminated
King B	“Remember The Time” by Michael Jackson	Advanced

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 8

Idols SA Season 14 Top 8 contestants were revealed on Sunday 30 September 2018, they then performed live.

Theme: “Orchestral Delight”

Group Performance: Top 9 contestants (accompanied by solo instrumentalist Davina Mae Gordon and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra) performed “Symphony” by Clean Bandit Ft. Zara Larsson

Guest Performer: Kwesta ( accompanied by the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra ) performed “Spirit”

Contestant	Song	Result
Niyaaz Arendse	“Take Me To Church” by Hozier	Advanced
Xae	“Cranes in the Sky” by Solange	Advanced
King B	“Loliwe” by Zahara	Advanced
Nosipho Silinda	“Hurt” by Christina Aguilera	Advanced
Lincoln Lewis	“Elastic Heart” by Sia Ft. The Weeknd & Diplo	Eliminated
Yanga Sobetwa	“Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” by Alicia Keys	Advanced
Thato Makape	“Treat You Better” by Shawn Mendes	Advanced
Thando Mngomezulu	“As Long As You Love Me” by Justin Bieber Ft. Big Sean	Advanced

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 7

The Idols SA Season 14 Top 7 contestants were revealed on Sunday 7 October 2018 after which they performed live.

Theme: “Showstopper”

Group Performance: Top 8 contestants performed “This Is Me” by The Greatest Showman Cast

Guest Performers: Dladla Mshunqisi, Distruction Boyz and DJ Tira performed “Pakisha”

Contestant	Song	Result
Thato Makape	“Mamelani” by Naak MusiQ	Advanced
Nosipho Silinda	“Into You” by Ariana Grande	Advanced
Niyaaz Arendse	“Turn Up The Music” by Chris Brown	Advanced
Yanga Sobetwa	“Not Yet Uhuru” by Letta Mbulu	Advanced
Xae	“1 Thing” by Amerie	Eliminated
King B	“Inde” by Heavy K Ft. Bucie & Nokwazi	Advanced
Thando Mngomezulu	“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyoncé	Advanced

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 6

Idols SA Season 14 Top 6 contestants were revealed on Sunday 14 October 2018 after which they performed two songs each.

Themes:
– “Celebration of South African Music”
– “Love Songs”

Guest Performers: Vusi Nova and Jessica Mbangeni performed “Asphelelanga”

Contestant	First Song	Second Song	Result
Thato Makape	“Where Did We Go Wrong?” by Stimela	“U Got It Bad” by Usher	Advanced
Nosipho Silinda	“Destiny” by Zahara	“Halo” by Beyoncé	Eliminated
Niyaaz Arendse	“Jika” by Mi Casa	“Crazy Love” by Brian McKnight	Advanced
Thando Mngomezulu	“Nizalwa Ngobani” by Thandiswa Mazwai	“I Believe In You and Me” by Whitney Houston	Advanced
King B	“Baby Please” by Robbie Malinga Ft. Kelly Khumalo	“Make You Feel My Love” by Adele	Advanced
Yanga Sobetwa	“Xa Bendingena Mama” by Zahara	“If This Isn’t Love” by Jennifer Hudson	Advanced

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 5

The Idols SA season 14 Top 5 contestants were revealed on Sunday 21 October 2018 before they each performed two live songs.

Theme: “How It Should Have Been Done”

Guest Judge: Dr. Mathew Knowles

Contestant	First Song	Second Song	Result
Thando Mngomezulu	“Spotlight” by Jennifer Hudson	“The Weakness In Me” by Keisha White	Advanced
Niyaaz Arendse	“Too Good At Goodbyes” by Sam Smith	“Lost Without U” by Robin Thicke	Eliminated
King B	“Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé	“Say Something” by A Great Big World	Advanced
Yanga Sobetwa	“What Is Love” by Empire Cast Ft. V. Bozeman	“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston	Advanced
Thato Makape	“Inkomo” by The Soil	“Imibuzo” by Nathi	Advanced

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 4

Idols SA Season 14 Top 4 contestants were revealed on Sunday 28 October 2018, they then went ahead and performed two songs each.

Themes:
– “Gospel”
– “This Is Now”

Group Performance: Top 5 contestants & Dr Rebecca Malope (backed by the Soweto Gospel Choir) performed “Moya Wami”

Guest Performers:
– Dr Rebecca Malope
– Soweto Gospel Choir

Contestant	First Song	Second Song	Result
Thato Makape	“Many Rivers To Cross” by Jimmy Cliff	“If” by Davido	Advanced
Thando Mngomezulu	“Ke Na Le Modisa” by Soweto Gospel Choir	“Thando” by Naima Kay	Advanced
Yanga Sobetwa	“Avulekile Amasango / One Love” by Soweto Gospel Choir	“Impilo” by Sjava	Advanced
King B	“Lion of Judah” by Lebo Sekgobela	“Kahle” by Amanda Black	Eliminated

Top 4 Contestants’ Debut Singles

After making it into Season 14’s Top 4, the contestants spent some time at Gallo Records working hard on their debut singles hoping that they could potentially catapult their careers to new heights.

King B, Yanga, Thato and Thando hit the booth at Gallo Records to lay down the vocals for their debut singles and luckily, the team at Gallo made sure all fear of missing out was kept at bay with an exclusive peak behind the scenes as the Top 4 contestants all looked right in their element.

Yanga Sobetwa was the first to lay down vocals for her debut single, check out her recording session HERE.

King B was the second contestant to lay down vocals, check out his recording session HERE.

Next in the recording booth was Thando, check out her recording session HERE.

And lastly Thato took over the booth to also lay down those vocals for his debut single, check out his recording session HERE.

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 3

The Idols SA Season 14 Top 3 contestants were revealed on Sunday 4 November 2018 after each Top 4 contestant had performed a duet with one of the show’s alumni.

Each Top 3 contestant then further performed a song by their own musical idol.

Themes:
– “Honouring The Greats”
– “My Musical Idol”

Guest Performers:
– Khaya Mthethwa
– Mmatema
– Karabo
– Amanda Black

Contestant	Duet “Honouring The Greats”	My Musical Idol	Result
Thando Mngomezulu	“The Closer I Get to You” by Beyoncé & Luther Vandross (with Karabo)	“Never Say Never” by Justin Bieber Ft. Jaden Smith	Eliminated
Thato Makape	“Ngam’thanda Umuntu” by Linda (with Amanda Black)	“Thandiwe” by Vusi Nova	Advanced
Yanga Sobetwa	“Beauty And The Beast” by Disney (with Khaya Mthethwa)	“Mkhulumsebenzi” by Khaya Mthethwa & Oasis Worship	Advanced
King B	“Smother” by Craig Lucas Ft. Paxton (with Mmatema)	N/A	N/A

Top 3 Dubai Trip

As is the norm, the season 14 Top 3 contestants were whisked for a trip immediately after the Top 3 Reveal live show, this time to Dubai. Thando, Yanga and Thato were accompanied by Idols SA host ProVerb.

Main Article: Check Out The Season 14 Top 3 Contestants In Dubai

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Idols SA Season 14 Top 2

Idols SA Season 14 Top 2 contestants, or rather the Finalists, were revealed during the live show on Sunday 11 November 2018.

Thando Mngomezulu was eliminated from the competition after the first round of performances that saw each Top 3 contestant perform their debut single.

The Top 2, Yanga Sobetwa and Thato Makape then performed two more songs each in a bid to get South Africans vote for them as the Winner.

Themes:
– “Song Of The Season”
– “Theatre Week”
– “New Single”

Guest Performer: Sho Madjozi performed “Huku”

Contestant	New Single	Theatre Week Song	Song Of The Season	Result
Yanga Sobetwa	“Scars (All Over Me)”	“Heaven” by Emeli Sandé	“Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” by Alicia Keys	Winner
Thato Makape	“Blow by Blow”	“I’m Not The Only One” by Sam Smith	“If” by Davido	Runner-up
Thando Mngomezulu	“Wasting Time”	N/A	N/A

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Idols SA Season 14 Grand Finale

The Idols SA Season 14 Grand Finale took place on Sunday 18 November 2018 at Carnival City in Johannesburg.

After gruelling months of sweat, blood and tears, the Grand Finale was a two-hour celebration of a great season that saw some of the youngest contestants on the Idols South Africa stage in a while.

The show pulled out all the stops to bring Mzansi Magic viewers and the full house at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena a music spectacular.

There were pyrotechnics, motorbikes, a jungle feel, protests, a riot of colour and a glimpse of an Africa reimagined.

Performers Of The Evening:

• Season 14 Top 10 contestants

• Host ProVerb, judges Randall, Somizi and Unathi performed “Greatest Show” and “Never Enough”

• Black Coffee and Msaki performed “Wish you were Here”

• DJ Tira, Prince Bulo, AKA and Okmalumkoolkat performed “No Rush”

• AKA performed “Fela In Versace” and “Jika”

• Kid X performed “Plaak”

• Kwesta performed “Vur Vai”

• Mlindo The Vocalist, Kwesta, Thabsie and Sfeesoh performed “Macala”

• Paxton performed “Angifuni”

• Thato Makape performed “Mamelani” by Naak MusiQ

• Yanga Sobetwa performed “Not Yet Uhuru” by Letta Mbulu

• Thato Makape and Yanga Sobetwa (duet) performed “Dusk Till Dawn” by Zayn Ft. Sia

Idols SA Season 14 Winner and Runner-up Announcement

South Africa collectively held its breath as millions of eyeballs trained on host ProVerb, crossing fingers for their favourite to be named the Idols SA Season 14 winner.

After an impressive 142 million votes were cast throughout the entire season, Season 14 came to a dazzling conclusion when 17-year-old Yanga Sobetwa was announced as the winner of South African Idols Season 14.

Yanga became the second consecutive teenage girl from the Western Cape to win the title after Paxton Fielies won it the previous season.

“I can’t put into words how I feel right now, but I can say it in song,” said a shell-shocked Yanga a few seconds after her name was called, before bursting into a gratitude chorus.

Her runner-up, Thato Makape, gave her a warm congratulatory hug and thanked South Africa for its immense support.

In addition to being the season 14 winner, Yanga Sobetwa also won a prize package worth of R1.5 million.

Director and Executive Producer, [sic] Entertainment Gavin Wratten, said: “Idols SA season 14 has beaten all our expectations; surpassing 100 million votes is a landmark achievement for reality TV in this country.”

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Idols SA Season 14 Wooden Mic

Rugene Solomons a door-to-door hairstylist from Cape Town was announced as the Idols SA Season 14 Wooden Mic winner during the live Grand Finale show on Sunday 18 November 2018 at Carnival City.

Season chronology:
« ( Season 13 ) Previous | Next ( Season 15 ) »

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