Idols SA Season 14
Idols SA Season 14 took place in 2018, the winner was Yanga Sobetwa and the runner-up was Thato Makape.
The season 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 |
List of Contents
Auditions
The Season 14 auditions kicked off on Saturday 20 January 2018 and ended on Saturday 3 March 2018.
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 |
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 featuring 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 featuring 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 featuring 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 |
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 |
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 featuring 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 featuring 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 |
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.
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 |
Idols SA Season 14 Top 8
Idols SA Season 14 Top 8 contestants were revealed on Sunday 30 September 2018, and 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 featuring 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 featuring The Weeknd and 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 featuring Big Sean | Advanced |
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 NaakMusiQ | 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 featuring Bucie and Nokwazi | Advanced |
Thando Mngomezulu | “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyoncé | Advanced |
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 featuring 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 |
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 featuring V. Bozeman | “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston | Advanced |
Thato Makape | “Inkomo” by The Soil | “Imibuzo” by Nathi | Advanced |

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 and 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, King B was the second contestant to lay down vocals, next in the recording booth was Thando, and lastly, Thato took over the booth to also lay down those vocals for his debut single.
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 | Song 1 – Duet “Honouring The Greats” | Song 2 – My Musical Idol | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Thando Mngomezulu | “The Closer I Get to You” by Beyoncé and Luther Vandross (with Karabo) | “Never Say Never” by Justin Bieber featuring 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 and Oasis Worship | Advanced |
King B | “Smother” by Craig Lucas featuring 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
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 to vote for them as the Winner.

Themes:
– “New Single”
– “Theatre Week”
– “Song Of The Season”
Guest Performer: Sho Madjozi performed “Huku”
Contestant | Song 1 – Idols SA Produced single | Song 2 – Theatre Week Song | Song 3 – 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 |
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 grueling 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 featuring Sia

Winner and Runner-up Announcement
South Africa collectively held its breath as millions of eyeballs trained on host ProVerb, crossing fingers for their favorite 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.”
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:
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