Idols South Africa (season 18)

Season of television series

Idols South Africa

Season 18
Hosted by| ProVerb
Judges|

* Somizi Mhlongo
* Thembi Seete
* JR

Winner| Thapelo Molomo
Runner-up| Nozi Sibiya
Country of origin| South Africa
Release
Original network| Mzansi Magic
Original release| 17 July (2022-07-17) –
13 November 2022 (2022-11-13)
Season chronology

← Previous
Season 17

Next →
Season 19

The eighteenth season of South African Idols premiered on 17 July 2022 on the Mzansi Magic television network under the theme "Singing a Different Tune".[1] Over 9,000 contestants auditioned for the season. The season was won by Thapelo Molomo and the runner-up was Nozi Sibiya.

Shortly after online auditions for the season were opened, it was announced that Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi would not return to the show as judges.[2] In February 2022, M-Net announced that Thembi Seete and JR replaced them, joining Somizi Mhlongo on the judges panel.[3]

## Finalists[edit]

This season, instead of the usual Top 16, a Top 12 was announced on 21 August 2022.[4][5]

Contestant  | Age  | Hometown  | Place finished

|
|
|

| Thapelo Molomo  | 29  | Mokopane, Limpopo | Winner
| Nozi Sibiya  | 27  | Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal | Runner-up
| Mpilwenhle Mokopu  | 24  | Katlehong, Gauteng | 3rd
| Ty Loner  | 21  | Eldorado Park, Gauteng | 4th
| Zee Arnolds  | 18  | Cape Town, Western Cape | 5th
| Noxolo Mthethwa  | 25  | Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal | 6th
| Kabelo Makhetha  | 25  | Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal | 7th
| CeeJay Canvass  | 24  | KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal | 8th
| Tesmin-Robyn Khanye  | 23  | Katlehong, Gauteng | 9th
| Lerato Matsabu  | 27  | Vaal, Gauteng | 10th
| Nandi Ndathane  | 21  | Diepkloof, Gauteng | 11th
| Hope Mkhway  | 23  | Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal | 12th

## Weekly Song Choice and Results[edit]

### Top 12: Duets with Mzansi Stars & Greatest Hits of Today[edit]

#### Group 1 (28 August)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song — Duets with Mzansi Stars  | Order  | Song — Greatest Hits of Today  | Result

|
|
|
|
|

Zee  | 1  | "Empini" with Kelly Khumalo | 7  | "Surprise" by Chlöe | Safe
Thapelo  | 2  | "Langa Linye" with Mduduzi Ncube  | 8  | "Love Me More" by Sam Smith | Safe
Hope  | 3  | "Pretend" with Langa Mavuso | 9  | "Hrs and Hrs" by Muni Long | Eliminated
Mpilwenhle  | 4  | "Phatha Kahle" with Presss  | 10  | "Positions" by Ariana Grande | Safe
Kabelo  | 5  | "Ngamkhetha" with Nomfundo Moh | 11  | "For Tonight" by Giveon | Safe
Tesmin-Robyn  | 6  | "Pillowtalk" with Boohle | 12  | "Pressure by Ari Lennox | Safe

#### Group 2 (4 September)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song — Duets with Mzansi Stars  | Order  | Song — Greatest Hits of Today  | Result

|
|
|
|
|

Noxolo  | 1  | "Kuyenyukela" with Kelly Khumalo | 7  | "Jerome" by Lizzo | Safe
Nandi  | 2  | "Ngimnandi" with Boohle | 8  | "Enough" by Fantasia | Eliminated
CeeJay  | 3  | "Isgingci" with Mduduzi Ncube  | 9  | "Love Nwantiti" by CKay | Safe
Lerato  | 4  | "Soft Life" with Nomfundo Moh | 10  | "Kiss Me More" by Doja Cat | Safe
Ty Loner  | 5  | "Cry No More" with Presss  | 11  | "Last Last" by Burna Boy | Safe
Nozi  | 6  | "Mvula" with Langa Mavuso | 12  | "Break My Soul by Beyoncé | Safe

### Top 10: Spotify's Soulful Sundays (11 September)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song[6] | Result

|
|
|

Mpilwenhle  | 1  | "Kahle" by Amanda Black | Safe
Thapelo  | 2  | "All By Myself" by Celine Dion | Safe
Tesmin-Robyn  | 3  | "More Than You" by Moneoa | Safe
Zee  | 4  | "Jik’izinto" by Zonke | Safe
Kabelo  | 5  | "Her Heart" by Anthony Hamilton | Safe
Lerato  | 6  | "I Can’t Make You Love Me" by Tank | Eliminated
Ty Loner  | 7  | "Thando" by Lloyd Cele  | Safe
Noxolo  | 8  | "Masterpiece (Mona Lisa)" by Jazmine Sullivan | Safe
Nozi  | 9  | "Giving Myself" by Jennifer Hudson | Safe
CeeJay  | 10  | "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" by John Legend | Safe

### Top 9: History of Music in Mzansi (18 September)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song[7] | Result

|
|
|

Noxolo  | 1  | "Shebeleza" by Joe Mafela | Safe
Kabelo  | 2  | "Ekuseni" by Ringo Madlingozi | Safe
Mpilwenhle  | 3  | "Nomalanga" by Caiphus Semenya | Safe
CeeJay  | 4  | "Send Me (South Africa)" by Hugh Masekela | Safe
Tesmin-Robyn  | 5  | "Siyaya Phambili" by Stimela | Eliminated
Ty Loner  | 6  | "Scatterlings of Africa" by Juluka | Safe
Nozi  | 7  | "Nizalwa Ngobani" by Thandiswa Mazwai | Safe
Thapelo  | 8  | "Papa" by Sankomota | Safe
Zee  | 9  | "Mama I’m Sorry" by Brenda Fassie | Safe

### Top 8: Parents' High School Crush (25 September)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song[8] | Result

|
|
|

Nozi  | 1  | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack | Safe
CeeJay  | 2  | "Mas’thokoze" by Mafikizolo | Eliminated
Zee  | 3  | "(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You" by UB40 | Safe
Kabelo  | 4  | "Here and Now" by Luther Vandross | Safe
Ty Loner  | 5  | "Can You Stand The Rain" by New Edition | Safe
Thapelo  | 6  | "Let It Be" by The Beatles | Safe
Mpilwenhle  | 7  | "Hero" by Mariah Carey | Safe
Noxolo  | 8  | "Miss You Like Crazy" by Natalie Cole | Safe

### Top 7: Showstopper (2 October)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song [9] | Result

|
|
|

Kabelo  | 1  | "Yeah!" by Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris | Eliminated
Noxolo  | 2  | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston | Safe
Mpilwenhle  | 3  | "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyoncé | Safe
Thapelo  | 4  | "Di Boya Limpopo" by Master KG feat. Zanda Zakhuza & Makhadzi | Safe
Zee  | 5  | "Grown Woman" by Beyoncé | Safe
Ty Loner  | 6  | "Locked Out of Heaven" by Bruno Mars | Safe
Nozi  | 7  | "Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna | Safe

### Top 6: Lifesong & Joyous Celebration (9 October)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song — Lifesong[10] | Order  | Song — Joyous Celebration[10] | Result

|
|
|
|
|

Zee  | 1  | "Hurt" by Christina Aguilera | 7  | "Uzuliphathe Kahle" with Joyous Celebration  | Safe
Noxolo  | 2  | "We Were Here" by Simmy | 8  | "My Help" with Joyous Celebration  | Eliminated
Ty Loner  | 3  | "Rock with You" by Michael Jackson | 9  | "Who Am I?" with Joyous Celebration  | Safe
Nozi  | 4  | "One Night Only" by Jennifer Holliday | 10  | "Wenzile" with Joyous Celebration  | Safe
Mpilwenhle  | 5  | "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson | 11  | "Ndenzel’ Uncedo" with Joyous Celebration  | Safe
Thapelo  | 6  | "I Look to You" by "Whitney Houston"  | 12  | "Hallelujah Nkateko" with Joyous Celebration  | Safe

### Top 5: The Babyface Songbook & Local Chart Toppers (16 October)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song — Babyface [11] | Order  | Song — Local Chart Toppers[11] | Result

|
|
|
|
|

Zee  | 1  | "Breathe Again" by Toni Braxton | 6  | "Abalele" by Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku | Eliminated
Ty Loner  | 2  | "The Color of Love" by Boyz II Men | 7  | "Mgani" by A-Reece | Safe
Thapelo  | 3  | "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men | 8  | "Sponky Ponky" by Jabu Khanyile | Safe
Nozi  | 4  | "Never Gonna Let You Go" by Faith Evans | 9  | "Asibe Happy" by Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku | Safe
Mpilwenhle  | 5  | "Another Sad Love Song" by Toni Braxton | 10  | "Dali Nguwe" by Master KG & Wanitwa Mos feat. Nkosazana Daughter  | Safe

### Top 4: New School Mzansi Hits & How It Should Have Been Done (23 October)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song — New School Mzansi Hits[12] | Order  | Song — How It Should Have Been Done[12] | Result

|
|
|
|
|

Mpilwenhle  | 1  | "Khusela" by Kabza de Small feat. Msaki | 5  | "Jealous" by Labrinth | Safe
Ty Loner  | 2  | "Selema (Po Po)" by Musa Keys & Loui  | 6  | "You & I (Nobody in the World)" by John Legend | Eliminated
Thapelo  | 3  | "Seasons" by Lloyiso  | 7  | "Ndikuthandile" by Vusi Nova | Safe
Nozi  | 4  | "Thando" by Mvzzle feat. Zammy  | 8  | "Listen" by Beyoncé | Safe

### Top 3: My Audition Song, Divas and Divos & Judges' Choice (30 October)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song — My Audition Song[13] | Order  | Song — Divas and Divos[13] | Order  | Song — Judges' Choice[13] | Result

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Nozi  | 1  | "Best Part" by Daniel Caesar feat. H.E.R. | 4  | "Try a Little Tenderness" by Aretha Franklin | 7  | "Rise Up" by Andra Day | Safe
Mpilwenhle  | 2  | "Ke Mo Afrika" by Maleh  | 5  | "Angel of Mine" by Monica | 8  | "A Long Walk" by Jill Scott | Eliminated
Thapelo  | 3  | "Esphambanweni" by Kelly Khumalo | 6  | "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton | 9  | "So Amazing" by Luther Vandross | Safe

### Top 2 (6 November)[edit]

Act  | Order  | Song — Idols-produced Single[14] | Order  | Song — Viewers' Choice[14] | Order  | Song — Song of the Season[14] | Result

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Thapelo | 1  | "Phanda" by Thapelo Molomo  | 3  | "Thanayi" by Hugh Masekela | 5  | "Let It Be" by The Beatles | Winner
Nozi  | 2  | "Idliso" by Nozi Sibiya  | 4  | "Moments Away" by Mango Groove | 6  | "Giving Myself" by Jennifer Hudson | Runner-up

* Before her elimination, Mpilwenhle Mokopu performed her single "Ngiyazifela".[15]

## Elimination Chart[edit]

Colour key
– | Winner

|

– | Runner-up
– | Eliminated
– | Wild Card
– | Withdrew
Weekly results per act  Act  | Top 12 | Top 10 | Top 9 | Top 8 | Top 7 | Top 6 | Top 5 | Top 4 | Top 3 | Top 2: Finale

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Group 1 | Group 2
Thapelo Molomo  | Safe | —  | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Winner
Nozi Sibiya  | —  | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Runner-up
Mpilwenhle Mokopu  | Safe | —  | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 3rd place | Eliminated
Ty Loner  | —  | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 4th place | Eliminated
Zee Arnolds  | Safe | —  | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 5th place | Eliminated
Noxolo Mthethwa  | —  | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | 6th place | Eliminated
Kabelo Makhetha  | Safe | —  | Safe | Safe | Safe | 7th place | Eliminated
CeeJay Canvass  | —  | Safe | Safe | Safe | 8th place | Eliminated
Tesmin-Robyn Khanye  | Safe | —  | Safe | 9th place | Eliminated
Lerato Matsabu  | —  | Safe | 10th place | Eliminated
Nandi Ndathane  | —  | 11th place | Eliminated
Hope Mkhway  | 12th place | Eliminated

## References[edit]

1. ^ Legodi, Simangele (8 July 2022). "SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE: IDOLS SA SEASON 18 IS BACK". EWN. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
2. ^ Madibogo, Julia (23 January 2022). "Idols SA bids farewell to Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi". News24. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
3. ^ Mphande, Joy (16 February 2022). "Thembi Seete and JR join Somizi as 'Idols SA season 18' judges". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
4. ^ Zuma, Mbalenhle (22 August 2022). "Meet your amazing 'Idols SA Season 18' top 12 contestants". Sunday World.
5. ^ Seemela, Masego (22 August 2022). "Crowd faves make it to Idols SA top 12". SowetanLIVE.
6. ^ "Mzanzi, meet your season 18 top 10 finalists for 'Idols SA'". IOL. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
7. ^ Valentine, Venecia (19 September 2022). "Mzansi vote for their 'Idols SA' season 18 top 9". IOL. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
8. ^ Khathi, Mzwandile (29 September 2022). "Idols SA top 8 give spectacular performances". Soweto Urban. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
9. ^ Valentine, Venecia (4 October 2022). "'Idols SA' season 18 announces its Top 7 in a blur of lights, props and dashing outfits". IOL. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
10. ^ a b Mbhele, Sandisiwe (10 October 2022). "Idols SA's top six bring out the joy". The Citizen. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
11. ^ a b Selisho, Kaunda (17 October 2022). "Idols SA top 5 announced after 13 million votes". The Citizen. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
12. ^ a b Mbhele, Sandisiwe (24 October 2022). "Idols SA top 4 reactions: 'Somizi must apologise to Llyoiso'". The Citizen. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
13. ^ a b c Dayile, Qhama (31 October 2022). "Meet Idols SA season 18 top three contestants". News24. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
14. ^ a b c Magagula, Nompumelelo (7 November 2022). "Idols Season 18: Who will take the crown among these two finalists?". City Press. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
15. ^ Magadla, Mahlohonolo (7 November 2022). "'Idols SA was a stepping stone for my music career' – Mpilwenhle on joining the show". True Love. Retrieved 13 November 2022.

* v
* t
* e

Idols South Africa

Seasons|

| English|

* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
* 8
* 9
* 10
* 11
* 12
* 13
* 14
* 15
* 16
* 17
* 18
* 19

|

Afrikaans|

* 1

Winners|

* Heinz Winckler
* Anke Pietrangeli
* Karin Kortje
* Dewald Louw
* Jody Williams
* Sasha-Lee Davids / Jason Hartman (co-winners)
* Elvis Blue
* Dave van Vuuren
* Khaya Mthethwa
* Musa Sukwene
* Vincent Bones
* Karabo Mogane
* Noma Khumalo
* Paxton Fielies
* Yanga Sobetwa
* Luyolo Yiba
* Zama Khumalo
* Berry Trytsman
* Thapelo Molomo
* Thabo Ndlovu

Winner's singles|

* "Once in a Lifetime"
* "Silver Lining"
* "I'm So Ready"
* "In Jou Oë"
* "Love Is All Around"
* "True Believer"/"Break the Silence"
* "Things My Father Said"
* "Hall of Mirrors"
* "Move"
* "I Still Feel It"
* "Let Me Love"
* "Ding Dong"
* "Want It to Feel Like It Did With You"
* "Demonstrate"
* "Scars (All Over Me)"
* "Sunshine Through the Rain"
* "Ndizobizwa"
* "Ungowami"
* "Phanda"
* "iSlungu"

Related articles|

* Idol franchise

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