The seventeenth season of South African Idols premiered on 11 July 2021 and concluded on 21 November 2021 on the Mzansi Magic television network. The season was won by Berry Trytsman and the runner-up was Karabo Mathe.
The season saw judge Somizi Mhlongo being asked to "take time off" from the show to deal with domestic abuse allegations against him. This resulted in him only appearing in the first few pre-recorded episodes and none of the live ones. He was replaced by a guest judge each week for the rest of the season.
After 17 and 11 years as judges respectively, it was announced shortly before the start of the eighteenth season that Randall Abrahams and Unathi Nkayi would not be returning to the show.
Finalists ContestantAgeHometownPlace finished Berry Trytsman 30 Cape Town, Western Cape Karabo Mathe 21 Hebron, North West S'22kile Langa 20 Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal Kevin Maduna 28 Soweto, Gauteng Daylin Sass 23 Hanover Park, Western Cape Nqobie Linda 28 Soweto, Gauteng Sia Mzizi 20 Tsakane, Gauteng Bulelani Twala 18 Heidelberg, Gauteng Monique Erens 25 Cape Town, Western Cape Ithana Conjwa 23 Cala, Eastern Cape Zukisa Mashiqa 16 Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal rowspan=3 Siya Motloung 21 Katlehong, Gauteng Misty Makhene 30 Vosloorus, Gauteng Andiswa Zondi 18 Johannesburg, Gauteng rowspan=3 Sinovuyo Mbhele 20 Vosloorus, Gauteng Tesmin-Robyn Khanye 23 Katlehong, Gauteng
Weekly Song Choice and Result
Top 16: The Biggest Hits of Today
Group A (29 August) +ActOrderSongResult Andiswa Zondi1"Midnight Sky" by Miley CyrusEliminated Bulelani Twala2 "Attention" by Charlie PuthWild Card Sinovuyo Mbhele3 "Pick Up Your Feelings" by Jazmine SullivanEliminated Nqobie Linda4"Hard Place" by H.E.RSafe Sia Mzizi 5"Heartbreak Anniversary" by GiveonSafe Tesmin-Robyn6"Before I Let Go" by BeyoncéEliminated Daylin Sass7 "Leave the Door Open" by Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk SonicSafe Berry Trytsman8"You Say" by Lauren Daigle Safe
Guest Judge: Lady Du
Group B (5 September) +ActOrderSongResult Siya Motloung1"In Your Eyes" by The WeekndEliminated Zukisa Mashiqa2"Distance" by YebbaEliminated Misty Makhene3"Dying 4 Your Love" by Snoh AalegraEliminated Karabo Mathe4"Stand Up for Something" by Andra Day Safe S’22kile Langa5"Meant to Be" by Bebe RexhaSafe Monique Erens6"I'll Never Love Again" by Lady GagaSafe Ithana Conjwa7"Forgive Me" by Chloe x HalleWild Card Kevin Maduna8"Peaches" by Justin BieberSafe
Guest Judge: Buhle Mda
Top 10 (Top 9): Battle of the DJs (19 September)
This round saw contestants perform hit songs by five DJs: DJ Cleo, Prince Kaybee, Sun-El Musician, De Mthuda and DJ Sumbody.
Ithana Conjwa withdrew from the competition for health reasons a day before performing in the non-elimination round broadcast on 12 September. This meant that the top 10 round immediately became the top 9 round.
+ActOrderSongResult Bulelani Twala1"Iyamemeza" by DJ Sumbody feat. Drip Gogo & The LowkeysSafe Monique Erens2"Charlotte" by Prince Kaybee feat. Lady ZamarEliminated Daylin Sass 3"Friend Zone" by Prince Kaybee feat. ZiyonSafe S’22kile Langa4"Wamuhle" by De Mthuda feat. Njelic & BoohleSafe Berry Trytsman5"Choose To Be Happy" by DJ Cleo feat. MmatemaSafe Kevin Maduna6"Piki Piki" by DJ Sumbody feat. Cassper Nyovest & KaylowSafe Nqobie Linda7"Akanamali" by Sun-El Musician feat. Samthing SowetoSafe Sia Mzizi8"Emlanjeni" by De Mthuda & Sir Trill feat. Da Muziqal ChefSafe Karabo Mathe9"Gcina Impilo Yam" by DJ Cleo feat. Bucy RadebeSafe Ithana Conjwa10"Ubomi Abumanga" by Sun-El Musician feat. MsakiWithdrew
Top 8 (26 September) +ActOrderSongResult Karabo Mathe1 "When I See U" by FantasiaSafe Nqobie Linda2"Uthando" by Soa Mattrix & Soulful G feat. Shaun 101Safe S’22kile Langa3"Xola Moya Wam" by Nomcebo Zikode feat. Master KGSafe Sia Mzizi4"Dream About You" by Loyiso GijanaSafe Daylin Sass5"Yummy" by Justin BieberSafe Bulelani Twala6"Uyeke" by Heavy K feat. Natalia MabasoEliminated Berry Trytsman7"Blinding Lights" by The WeekndSafe Kevin Maduna8"Case" by TeniSafe
Guest Judge: Dineo Ranaka
Top 7 Top 7: Mzansi Greats (3 October) +ActOrderSongResult Karabo Mathe1"Paradise Road" by JoySafe Daylin Sass2"Take Your Love" by Steve KekanaSafe Berry Trytsman3"I'd Like" by FreshlygroundSafe Kevin Maduna4"Nguwe" by MalaikaSafe Sia Mzizi5"Sondela" by Ringo MadlingoziSafe S'22kile Langa6"No No No Senor" by Brenda FassieSafe Nqobie Linda7"I Love Music" by Lebo MathosaSafe
Guest Judge: Zahara
Top 7: Showstopper (11 October) On 11 October, it was announced that there would be no elimination that week, and would resume the following week. All seven contestants went on to perform their prepared showstopper songs.
+ActOrderSongResult S'22kile Langa1"Dance for You" by BeyoncéSafe Sia Mzizi2"John Wick" by De Mthuda feat. Sir Trill & Da Muziqal ChefEliminated Karabo Mathe3"Respect" by Aretha FranklinSafe Daylin Sass4"LaLaLa" by Black Coffee feat. UsherSafe Berry Trytsman5"Something's Got a Hold on Me" by Christina AguileraSafe Nqobie Linda6"Dance like We're Making Love" by CiaraSafe Kevin Maduna7"We Dance Again" by Black Coffee feat. Nakhane TouréSafe
Guest Judge: Thembi Seete
Top 6: Oskido's Playlist & Max Martin's Songbook (17 October) +ActOrderSong — Oskido's PlaylistOrderSong — Max Martin's SongbookResult Berry Trytsman1"Power" by Amanda Black7"Dark Horse" by Katy PerrySafe Kevin Maduna2"Ubomi Abumanga" by Sun-El Musician feat. Msaki8"It's My Life" by Bon JoviSafe Nqobie Linda3 "Feelings" by Zonke9 "Please Don't Leave Me" by PinkEliminated S'22kile Langa4"Ntyilo Ntyilo" by Rethabile Khumalo feat. Master KG10"Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" by AdeleSafe Karabo Mathe5"Ngeke Balunge" by Mafikizolo11"Perfect" by PinkSafe Daylin Sass6"Something Inside So Strong" by Lira12"Pillowtalk by ZaynSafe
Guest Judge: Oskido
Top 5: Mzansi Gay Choir (24 October) +ActOrderSong — UnpluggedOrderSong — LGBTQI+ AlliesResult Karabo Mathe1"Thandwa Ndim" by Amanda Black6"River Deep – Mountain High" by Tina TurnerSafe Daylin Sass2"Fairytale" by Liquideep7"Whataya Want from Me" by Adam LambertEliminated S’22kile Langa3"Easy to Love" by Bucie8"Love on the Brain" by RihannaSafe Berry Trytsman4"Happy" by Craig Lucas9"The Edge of Glory" by Lady GagaSafe Kevin Maduna5"Mnike" by Afrotraction10"As" by Stevie WonderSafe
Guest Judge: Khaya Dladla
Top 4: Judges' Picks & SAMA Winners (31 October) +ActOrderSong — Judges' PicksOrderSong — SAMA WinnersResult S’22kile Langa1"Diamonds" by Rihanna5"Sonini" by Sun-El MusicianSafe Kevin Maduna2"Banyana" by DJ Maphorisa6"These Streets" by Mi CasaEliminated Karabo Mathe3"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Hudson7"Black President" by Brenda FassieSafe Berry Trytsman4"No Tears Left to Cry" by Ariana Grande8"Hold Your Kite" by GoldFish and SoranaSafe
Guest Judge: Kelly Khumalo
Top 3: Gospel Duet (7 November) +ActOrderSong — Duet with Gospel ArtistOrderSongOrderSongResult Berry Trytsman1"Basuka" by Ayanda Ntanzi4"Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers7"Easy on Me" by AdeleSafe Karabo Mathe2"Hallelujah Mdumiseni" by Lebo Sekgobela5"Gold" by Beverley Knight8"Phakade Lami" by Nomfundo Moh, Sha Sha & Ami FakuSafe S'22kile Langa3"Mhlekazi" by Hlengiwe Mhlaba6"Mina Nawe" by Amanda Black9"Woman" by Doja CatEliminated
Guest Judge: Judith Sephuma Before his elimination, Kevin Maduna got a chance to perform his gospel duet song "Ukuhlala Kuye" with Dumi Mkokstad.
Top 2 (14 November) +ActOrderIdols-produced SingleOrderAudition SongOrderFavourite Previous Performance Result Karabo Mathe1"Hosanna" by Karabo Mathe3"Ndidinge" by Cici5"Respect" by Aretha FranklinRunner-up Berry Trytsman2"Ungowami" by Berry Trytsman4"Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman6"Something's Got a Hold on Me" by Christina Aguilera"Winner
Guest Judge: Msaki Before her elimination, S'22kile performed her single "Falling".
Elimination Chart Colour key –Winner –Runner-up –Eliminated –Wild Card –Withdrew
+ Weekly results per act Act Top 16 Top 10 Top 9 Top 8 Top 7 (first week) Top 7 (second week) Top 6 Top 5 Top 4 Top 3 Top 2 Group A Group B Berry Trytsman Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeWinner Karabo Mathe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeRunner-up S'22kile Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe3rd place Eliminated Kevin Maduna Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe4th place Eliminated Daylin Sass Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe5th place Eliminated Nqobie Linda Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe6th place Eliminated Sia Mzizi Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe7th place Eliminated Bulelani TwalaWild Card Safe Safe8th place Eliminated Monique Erens Safe Safe9th place Eliminated Ithana Conjwa Wild Card10th place Eliminated Zukisa Mashiqa 11th/13th place Eliminated Siya Motloung Misty Makhene Andiswa Zondi14th/16th place Eliminated Sinovuyo Mbhele Tesmin-Robyn Khanye
References