Idols South Africa season 18

*Idols South Africa*
Idols South Africa
Season 18
Hosted by	ProVerb
Judges	Somizi Mhlongo; Thembi Seete; JR;
Winner	Thapelo Molomo
Runner-up	Nozi Sibiya
Release
Original network	Mzansi Magic
Original release	17 July –; 13 November 2022
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

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

	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

Top 12: Duets with Mzansi Stars & Greatest Hits of Today

Group 1 (28 August)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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

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
Act	Group 1	Group 2	Top 10	Top 9	Top 8	Top 7	Top 6	Top 5	Top 4	Top 3	Top 2: Finale
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

^ Legodi, Simangele (8 July 2022). "SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE: IDOLS SA SEASON 18 IS BACK". EWN. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
^ Madibogo, Julia (23 January 2022). "Idols SA bids farewell to Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi". News24. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
^ Mphande, Joy (16 February 2022). "Thembi Seete and JR join Somizi as 'Idols SA season 18' judges". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
^ Zuma, Mbalenhle (22 August 2022). "Meet your amazing 'Idols SA Season 18' top 12 contestants". Sunday World.
^ Seemela, Masego (22 August 2022). "Crowd faves make it to Idols SA top 12". SowetanLIVE.
^ "Mzanzi, meet your season 18 top 10 finalists for 'Idols SA'". IOL. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
^ Valentine, Venecia (19 September 2022). "Mzansi vote for their 'Idols SA' season 18 top 9". IOL. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
^ Khathi, Mzwandile (29 September 2022). "Idols SA top 8 give spectacular performances". Soweto Urban. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b Mbhele, Sandisiwe (10 October 2022). "Idols SA's top six bring out the joy". The Citizen. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b Selisho, Kaunda (17 October 2022). "Idols SA top 5 announced after 13 million votes". The Citizen. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b Mbhele, Sandisiwe (24 October 2022). "Idols SA top 4 reactions: 'Somizi must apologise to Llyoiso'". The Citizen. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Dayile, Qhama (31 October 2022). "Meet Idols SA season 18 top three contestants". News24. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
^ ^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.
^ 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.

[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.

[top6-10] Mbhele, Sandisiwe (10 October 2022). "Idols SA's top six bring out the joy". The Citizen. Retrieved 22 October 2022.

[top5-11] Selisho, Kaunda (17 October 2022). "Idols SA top 5 announced after 13 million votes". The Citizen. Retrieved 22 October 2022.

[top4-12] Mbhele, Sandisiwe (24 October 2022). "Idols SA top 4 reactions: 'Somizi must apologise to Llyoiso'". The Citizen. Retrieved 27 October 2022.

[top3-13] Dayile, Qhama (31 October 2022). "Meet Idols SA season 18 top three contestants". News24. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

[top2-14] 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.

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