Idols South Africa III was the third season of South African reality interactive talent show based on the British talent show Pop Idol. It was running from August to November 2005. All four judges returned for another season. After one season Letoya Makhene left the show making Colin Moss the solo host, similar to Ryan Seacrest on American Idol.
For the first time the semifinal groups where divided into genders. As there were only six males who made it to the top 24, only one group was male though. This resulted in a top 12 with only two males for a second year in a row. There was no wildcard show held. Instead the judges each chose one contestant who was not voted in the top 12 directly in the group phase.
Viewer outrage ensued following the elimination of Nhlanhla Mwelse after it was revealed that the 4 judges had a 49% leverage to the total weekly votes & that this happened since the start of the semi-finals. Before the series started, it was portrayed that the viewers would account for 100% of the total vote this year compared to the judges' 40% in season 1 & 2.
Karin Kortje, a young mother from Grabouw, Cape Town wowed the audience and judges with her big voice and won the final against Gift Gwe with 62.58% and was also leading throughout the competition by a landside. However Kortje was not so lucky in her personal life after the contest ended as her boyfriend was charged of robbery and murder just months after the show. In difference to the other finalists of her season, Kortje was not invited to take part of the final of the next season.
Twelfth place finalist Jamie-Lee Blokdyk would later return in the sixth season, albeit with the surname "Sexton". Jamie-Lee Sexton wound up placing eighth on that season.
Finals Finalists (ages stated at time of contest)
Contestant Age Hometown Voted Off Spectacular Theme Karin Kortje 26 Grabouw, Cape Town WinnerGrand Finale Gift Gwe 21 Bishop, Mossel Bay 27 November 2005 Veronique "Nicky" de Lange 17 Bloemfontein21 November 2005Great Singers, Great Songs Veronique "V" Lalouette 23 Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg Nhlanhla Mwelase 22 Springs, Gauteng 14 November 2005 My Idols Ayanda Mpama 21 Seaview, KwaZulu-Natal 7 November 2005 Judges's Choice Deidré Visser 17 Centurion, Pretoria31 October 2005Music Video Hits Martelize Van Niekerk 19 Kuilsrivier Kesha Charlton-Perkins 18 Randburg, Johannesburg 17 October 2005 Viewers' Choice Pume Zondi 19 Wybank, Pinetown 10 October 2005 Music from the Movies Bonolo Molosiwa 24 Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg 3 October 2005 #1 Hits from the '90s Jamie-Lee Blokdyk 19 Magaliesburg 26 September 2005 Millennium Hits
Themes 26 September: Hits 2000 3 October: Number 1 Hits 10 October: Film Songs 17 October: Viewers Choice 31 October: Video Hits 7 November: Judges Choice 14 November: My Idols 21 November: Great Songs 27 November: Grand Finale
Elimination Chart + Legend Did Not Perform Female Male Top 24 Wild Card Top 12 Winner Safe Most votesBottom 3Bottom 2Eliminated
Stage:SemiFinalsWeek: 08/30 09/06 09/1209/19 09/26 10/03 10/10 10/17 10/31 11/07 11/14 11/21 11/27 Place ContestantResult1Karin Kortje1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st Winner2Gift Gwe2nd8th4th2nd3rd4th3rd4th2ndRunner-Up3Veronique de LangeElimSaved4th5th4th5th5th2nd2nd3rd4Veronique Lalouette2nd7th6th7th2nd2nd4th3rd4th5Nhlanhla Mwelse1st3rd2nd8th4th3rd5th5th6Ayanda MpamaElimSaved10th10th5th6th6th6th7Deidré Visser (van Rooyen)1st6th8th3rd7th7th8Martelize Van Niekerk (Voigt)2nd2nd3rd6th8th8th9Kesha Charlton-Perkins1st5th7th9th9th10Pume Zondi2nd9th9th10th11Bonolo MolosiwaElimSaved11th11th12Jamie-Lee BlokdykElimSaved12thSemi-Final 4Bianca BronnElimNthabiseng RoroTumelo ThulareSemi-Final 3Bjorn HartnickElimCallan MaloneyMthawelang NkozoRoomie NovalSemi-Final 2Berenice VoigtElimJessica LourencoKarabo MolekeSemi-Final 1Cecile du PreezElimNosipho Zwane
Live Show Details Heat 1 (28 August 2005) Artist First song (original artists) Second song ResultBonolo Molosiwa"We Belong Together" (Mariah Carey)"You Are Everything" (Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye)EliminatedCecile du Preez"Girl" (Destiny's Child)"I Say a Little Prayer" (Aretha Franklin)EliminatedDeidré Visser"Father and Son" (Cat Stevens)"These Words" (Natasha Bedingfield)AdvancedNicky de Lange"Since U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson)"Unchained Melody" (The Righteous Brothers)EliminatedNosipho Zwane"Destiny" (Malaika)"Take My Breath Away" (Berlin)EliminatedPume Zondi"Dance with My Father" (Luther Vandross)"The Voice Within" (Christina Aguilera)Advanced
Heat 2 (4 September 2005) Artist First song (original artists) Second song ResultBernice Breedt"Pieces of Me" (Ashlee Simpson)"Thank U" (Alanis Morissette)EliminatedJamie-Lee Blokdyk"Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers)"Shiver" (Natalie Imbruglia)EliminatedJessica Lourenco"Sweet Dreams My LA Ex" (Rachel Stevens)"What a Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong)EliminatedKarabo Moleke"Don't Tell Me" (Avril Lavigne)"I Love Music" (Lebo Mathosa)EliminatedKarin Kortje"A Cry, a Smile, a Dance" (Judith Sephuma)"Ordinary People" (John Legend)AdvancedMartelize van Niekerk"Pretty Baby" (Vanessa Carlton)"Unforgettable" (Nat King Cole)Advanced
Heat 3 (11 September 2005) Artist First song (original artists) Second song ResultBjorn Hartnick"Let Me Love You" (Mario)"Sunday Morning" (Maroon 5)EliminatedCallan Maloney"Evergreen" (Will Young)"Here Without You" (3 Doors Down)EliminatedGift Gwe"Holding Back the Years" (Simply Red)"Señorita" (Justin Timberlake)AdvancedMthawelanga Nkonzo"Daughters" (John Mayer)"Wrap My Words Around You" (Daniel Bedingfield)EliminatedNhlanhla Mwelse"Hello" (Lionel Richie)"This Love" (Maroon 5)AdvancedRomie Noval"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (Michael Bolton)"Leave Right Now" (Will Young)Eliminated
Heat 4 (18 September 2005) Artist First song (original artists) Second song ResultAyanda Mpama"Ndiredi" (Simphiwe Dana)"Not in Love" (Enrique Iglesias)EliminatedBianca Bronn"Everywhere" (Michelle Branch)"Superstar" (Jamelia)EliminatedKesha Charlton-Perkins"I Bruise Easily" (Natasha Bedingfield)"My Prerogative" (Britney Spears)AdvancedNthabiseng Roro"Doo Be Doo" (Freshlyground)"Let It Be" (The Beatles)EliminatedTumelo Thulare"Always Be My Baby" (Mariah Carey)"Only U" (Ashanti)EliminatedVeronique Lalouette"I Believe" (Fantasia Barrino)"I Don't Want to Wait" (Paula Cole)Advanced
Live Show 1 (25 September 2005) Theme: Millennium Hits ArtistSong (original artists)ResultAyanda Mpama"Video" (India Arie)Bottom threeBonolo Molosiwa"Amazing" (George Michael)Bottom twoDeidré Visser"Behind These Hazel Eyes" (Kelly Clarkson)SafeGift Gwe"Rhythm Divine" (Enrique Iglesias)SafeJamie-Lee Blokdyk"Dreams" (Fleetwood Mac)EliminatedKarin Kortje"Don't Know Why" (Norah Jones)SafeKesha Charlton-Perkins"Bad Day" (Daniel Powter)SafeMartelize van Niekerk"The First Cut Is the Deepest" (Cat Stevens)SafeNhlanhla Mwelse"Used to Love U" (John Legend)SafeNicky de Lange"Try" (Nelly Furtado)SafePume Zondi"If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys)SafeVeronique Lalouette"All for You" (Janet Jackson)Safe
Live Show 2 (2 October 2005) Theme: #1 Hits from the '90s ArtistSong (original artists)ResultAyanda Mpama"Angel of Mine" (Monica)Bottom twoBonolo Molosiwa"Take a Bow" (Madonna)EliminatedDeidré Visser"Can't Help Falling in Love" (UB40)SafeGift Gwe"I Swear" (All-4-One)SafeKarin Kortje"Un-Break My Heart" (Toni Braxton)SafeKesha Charlton-Perkins"Stay (I Missed You)" (Lisa Loeb)SafeMartelize van Niekerk"Don't Speak" (No Doubt)SafeNhlanhla Mwelse"I Wanna Be the Only One" (Eternal & BeBe Winans)SafeNicky de Lange"Crush" (Jennifer Paige)SafePume Zondi"You're Still the One" (Shania Twain)Bottom threeVeronique Lalouette"Show Me Heaven" (Maria McKee)Safe
Live Show 3 (9 October 2005) Theme: Music from the Movies ArtistSong (original artists)ResultAyanda Mpama"Over the Rainbow" (Judy Garland)SafeDeidré Visser"Holding Out for a Hero" (Bonnie Tyler)SafeGift Gwe"Love Is All Around" (Wet Wet Wet)SafeKarin Kortje"Can't Fight the Moonlight" (LeAnn Rimes)SafeKesha Charlton-Perkins"There You'll Be" (Faith Hill)Bottom twoMartelize van Niekerk"All by Myself" (Celine Dion)SafeNhlanhla Mwelse"How Deep Is Your Love" (Bee Gees)Bottom threeNicky de Lange"Searchin' My Soul" (Vonda Shepard)SafePume Zondi"It Must Have Been Love" (Roxette)EliminatedVeronique Lalouette"Crazy" (Patsy Cline)Safe
Live Show 4 (16 October 2005) Theme: Viewers' Choice ArtistSong (original artists)ResultAyanda Mpama"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (Roberta Flack)SafeDeidré Visser"Bed of Roses" (Bon Jovi)Bottom threeGift Gwe"Give Me the Night" (George Benson)SafeKarin Kortje"(They Long to Be) Close to You" (The Carpenters)SafeKesha Charlton-Perkins"Reach" (Gloria Estefan)EliminatedMartelize van Niekerk"Let the River Run" (Carly Simon)Bottom twoNhlanhla Mwelse"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (Stevie Wonder)SafeNicky de Lange"What's Love Got to Do with It" (Tina Turner)SafeVeronique Lalouette"River Deep – Mountain High" (Tina Turner)Safe
Live Show 5 (23 October 2005) Theme: How It Should Have Been Done ArtistSong (original artists)ResultAyanda Mpama"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)N/ADeidré Visser"Strong Enough" (Cher)N/AGift Gwe"Fever" (Michael Bublé)N/AKarin Kortje"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin)N/AMartelize van Niekerk"Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" (Bryan Adams)N/ANhlanhla Mwelse"Killing Me Softly" (Fugees)N/ANicky de Lange"My Immortal" (Evanescence)N/AVeronique Lalouette"Angels" (Robbie Williams)N/A
Live Show 6 (30 October 2005) Theme: Music Video Hits ArtistSong (original artists)ResultAyanda Mpama"Nothing Compares 2 U" (Sinéad O'Connor)Bottom threeDeidré Visser"...Baby One More Time" (Britney Spears)EliminatedGift Gwe"Faith" (George Michael)SafeKarin Kortje"Together Again" (Janet Jackson)SafeMartelize van Niekerk"That Don't Impress Me Much" (Shania Twain)EliminatedNhlanhla Mwelse"I'll Be Missing You" (Puff Daddy & Faith Evans)SafeNicky de Lange"Just a Little" (Liberty X)SafeVeronique Lalouette"Beautiful" (Christina Aguilera)Safe
Live Show 7 (6 November 2005) Theme: Judges' Choice ArtistFirst song (original artists)Second songResultAyanda Mpama"Another Sad Love Song" (Toni Braxton)"One Day I'll Fly Away" (Randy Crawford)EliminatedGift Gwe"Uptown Girl" (Westlife)"Back at One" (Brian McKnight)SafeKarin Kortje"Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" (Diana Ross)"If I Can't Have You" (Yvonne Elliman)SafeNhlanhla Mwelse"All Night Long (All Night)" (Lionel Richie)"Walking Away" (Craig David)Bottom twoNicky de Lange"Underneath Your Clothes" (Shakira)"Brass in Pocket" (The Pretenders)SafeVeronique Lalouette"Call Me" (Blondie)"Other Side of the World" (KT Tunstall)Bottom three
Live Show 8 (13 November 2005) Theme: My Idols ArtistFirst song (original artists)Second songResultGift Gwe"U Remind Me" (Usher)"End of the Road" (Boyz II Men)Bottom twoKarin Kortje"Never Never Never" (Shirley Bassey)"Never Too Much" (Luther Vandross)SafeNhlanhla Mwelse"Here and Now" (Luther Vandross)"Part Time Lover" (Stevie Wonder)EliminatedNicky de Lange"Foolish Games" (Jewel)"Small Room" (Karen Zoid)SafeVeronique Lalouette"I Turn to You" (Christina Aguilera)"Work It Out" (Beyoncé)Safe
Live Show 9: Semi-final (20 November 2005) Theme: Great Singers, Great Songs ArtistFirst song (original artists)Second songResultGift Gwe"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (Elton John)"Stuck on You" (Lionel Richie)SafeKarin Kortje"When I Need You" (Leo Sayer)"I Have Nothing" (Whitney Houston)SafeNicky de Lange"It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (Celine Dion)"How Do I Live" (LeAnn Rimes)EliminatedVeronique Lalouette"Touch Me in the Morning" (Diana Ross)"Rhythm of the Night" (DeBarge)Eliminated
Live final (27 November 2005) ArtistFirst songSecond songThird songResultGift Gwe"End of the Road""Señorita""Sometimes a Dream"Runner-upKarin Kortje"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman""If I Can't Have You""I'm So Ready"Winner
References
External links Idols III website