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". 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. In February 2022, M-Net announced that Thembi Seete and JR replaced them, joining Somizi Mhlongo on the judges panel.
Finalists This season, instead of the usual Top 16, a Top 12 was announced on 21 August 2022.
ContestantAgeHometownPlace finished Thapelo Molomo 29 Mokopane, Limpopo Nozi Sibiya 27 Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal Mpilwenhle Mokopu 24 Katlehong, Gauteng Ty Loner 21 Eldorado Park, Gauteng Zee Arnolds 18 Cape Town, Western Cape Noxolo Mthethwa 25 Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal Kabelo Makhetha 25 Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal CeeJay Canvass 24 KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal Tesmin-Robyn Khanye 23 Katlehong, Gauteng Lerato Matsabu 27 Vaal, Gauteng Nandi Ndathane 21 Diepkloof, Gauteng Hope Mkhway 23 Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
Weekly Song Choice and Results
Top 12: Duets with Mzansi Stars & Greatest Hits of Today Group 1 (28 August) +ActOrderSong — Duets with Mzansi StarsOrderSong — Greatest Hits of TodayResult Zee1"Empini" with Kelly Khumalo7"Surprise" by Chlöe Safe Thapelo2"Langa Linye" with Mduduzi Ncube8"Love Me More" by Sam Smith Safe Hope3 "Pretend" with Langa Mavuso9 "Hrs and Hrs" by Muni Long Eliminated Mpilwenhle4"Phatha Kahle" with Presss10"Positions" by Ariana Grande Safe Kabelo5"Ngamkhetha" with Nomfundo Moh11"For Tonight" by Giveon Safe Tesmin-Robyn6"Pillowtalk" with Boohle12"Pressure by Ari Lennox Safe
Group 2 (4 September) +ActOrderSong — Duets with Mzansi StarsOrderSong — Greatest Hits of TodayResult Noxolo1"Kuyenyukela" with Kelly Khumalo7"Jerome" by Lizzo Safe Nandi2"Ngimnandi" with Boohle8"Enough" by Fantasia Eliminated CeeJay3 "Isgingci" with Mduduzi Ncube9 "Love Nwantiti" by CKay Safe Lerato4"Soft Life" with Nomfundo Moh10"Kiss Me More" by Doja Cat Safe Ty Loner5"Cry No More" with Presss11"Last Last" by Burna Boy Safe Nozi6"Mvula" with Langa Mavuso12"Break My Soul by Beyoncé Safe
Top 10: Spotify's Soulful Sundays (11 September) +ActOrderSongResult Mpilwenhle1"Kahle" by Amanda BlackSafe Thapelo2"All By Myself" by Celine DionSafe Tesmin-Robyn3"More Than You" by MoneoaSafe Zee4"Jik’izinto" by ZonkeSafe Kabelo5"Her Heart" by Anthony HamiltonSafe Lerato6"I Can’t Make You Love Me" by TankEliminated Ty Loner7"Thando" by Lloyd CeleSafe Noxolo8"Masterpiece (Mona Lisa)" by Jazmine SullivanSafe Nozi9"Giving Myself" by Jennifer HudsonSafe CeeJay10"Tonight (Best You Ever Had)" by John LegendSafe
Top 9: History of Music in Mzansi (18 September) +ActOrderSongResult Noxolo1"Shebeleza" by Joe MafelaSafe Kabelo2"Ekuseni" by Ringo MadlingoziSafe Mpilwenhle3"Nomalanga" by Caiphus SemenyaSafe CeeJay4"Send Me (South Africa)" by Hugh MasekelaSafe Tesmin-Robyn5"Siyaya Phambili" by StimelaEliminated Ty Loner6"Scatterlings of Africa" by JulukaSafe Nozi7"Nizalwa Ngobani" by Thandiswa MazwaiSafe Thapelo8"Papa" by SankomotaSafe Zee9"Mama I’m Sorry" by Brenda FassieSafe
Top 8: Parents' High School Crush (25 September) +ActOrderSongResult Nozi1"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta FlackSafe CeeJay2"Mas’thokoze" by MafikizoloEliminated Zee3"(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You" by UB40Safe Kabelo4"Here and Now" by Luther VandrossSafe Ty Loner5"Can You Stand The Rain" by New EditionSafe Thapelo6"Let It Be" by The BeatlesSafe Mpilwenhle7"Hero" by Mariah CareySafe Noxolo8"Miss You Like Crazy" by Natalie ColeSafe
Top 7: Showstopper (2 October) +ActOrderSong Result Kabelo1"Yeah!" by Usher feat. Lil Jon & LudacrisEliminated Noxolo2"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney HoustonSafe Mpilwenhle3"Run the World (Girls)" by BeyoncéSafe Thapelo4"Di Boya Limpopo" by Master KG feat. Zanda Zakhuza & MakhadziSafe Zee5"Grown Woman" by BeyoncéSafe Ty Loner6"Locked Out of Heaven" by Bruno MarsSafe Nozi7"Don't Stop the Music" by RihannaSafe
Top 6: Lifesong & Joyous Celebration (9 October) +ActOrderSong — LifesongOrderSong — Joyous CelebrationResult Zee1"Hurt" by Christina Aguilera7"Uzuliphathe Kahle" with Joyous Celebration Safe Noxolo2"We Were Here" by Simmy8"My Help" with Joyous Celebration Eliminated Ty Loner3 "Rock with You" by Michael Jackson9 "Who Am I?" with Joyous Celebration Safe Nozi4"One Night Only" by Jennifer Holliday10"Wenzile" with Joyous Celebration Safe Mpilwenhle5"Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson11"Ndenzel’ Uncedo" with Joyous Celebration Safe Thapelo6"I Look to You" by "Whitney Houston"12"Hallelujah Nkateko" with Joyous Celebration Safe
Top 5: The Babyface Songbook & Local Chart Toppers (16 October) +ActOrderSong — Babyface OrderSong — Local Chart ToppersResult Zee1"Breathe Again" by Toni Braxton6"Abalele" by Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku Eliminated Ty Loner2"The Color of Love" by Boyz II Men7"Mgani" by A-Reece Safe Thapelo3 "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men8 "Sponky Ponky" by Jabu Khanyile Safe Nozi4"Never Gonna Let You Go" by Faith Evans9"Asibe Happy" by Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa feat. Ami Faku Safe Mpilwenhle5"Another Sad Love Song" by Toni Braxton10"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) +ActOrderSong — New School Mzansi HitsOrderSong — How It Should Have Been DoneResult Mpilwenhle1"Khusela" by Kabza de Small feat. Msaki5"Jealous" by Labrinth Safe Ty Loner2"Selema (Po Po)" by Musa Keys & Loui6"You & I (Nobody in the World)" by John Legend Eliminated Thapelo3 "Seasons" by Lloyiso7 "Ndikuthandile" by Vusi Nova Safe Nozi4"Thando" by Mvzzle feat. Zammy8"Listen" by Beyoncé Safe
Top 3: My Audition Song, Divas and Divos & Judges' Choice (30 October) +ActOrderSong — My Audition SongOrderSong — Divas and DivosOrderSong — Judges' ChoiceResult Nozi1"Best Part" by Daniel Caesar feat. H.E.R.4"Try a Little Tenderness" by Aretha Franklin7"Rise Up" by Andra DaySafe Mpilwenhle2"Ke Mo Afrika" by Maleh5 "Angel of Mine" by Monica8"A Long Walk" by Jill ScottEliminated Thapelo3"Esphambanweni" by Kelly Khumalo6"When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton9"So Amazing" by Luther Vandross Safe
Top 2 (6 November) +ActOrderSong — Idols-produced SingleOrderSong — Viewers' ChoiceOrderSong — Song of the SeasonResult Thapelo1"Phanda" by Thapelo Molomo3"Thanayi" by Hugh Masekela5"Let It Be" by The Beatles Winner Nozi2"Idliso" by Nozi Sibiya4 "Moments Away" by Mango Groove6"Giving Myself" by Jennifer Hudson Runner-up
Before her elimination, Mpilwenhle Mokopu performed her single "Ngiyazifela".
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 Group 1 Group 2 Thapelo MolomoSafe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeWinner Nozi Sibiya Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeRunner-up Mpilwenhle MokopuSafe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe3rd place Eliminated Ty Loner Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe4th place Eliminated Zee ArnoldsSafe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe5th place Eliminated Noxolo Mthethwa Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe6th place Eliminated Kabelo MakhethaSafe Safe Safe Safe7th place Eliminated CeeJay Canvass Safe Safe Safe8th place Eliminated Tesmin-Robyn Khanye Safe Safe9th place Eliminated Lerato Matsabu Safe10th place Eliminated Nandi Ndathane 11th place Eliminated Hope Mkhway12th place Eliminated
References