The nineteenth and final season of South African Idols premiered on 8 July 2023 on the Mzansi Magic and Mzansi Wethu television networks, under the themes "iLast Number" and "The Farewell Season". The season was won by Thabo Ndlovu, while Princess MacDonald was the runner-up.
On 5 February 2023, it was announced that auditions for the final season would commence on 12 February 2023. The live shows began on 19 August 2023, with the ladies taking to stage first.
Finalists
ContestantAgeHometownPlace finished Thabo Ndlovu 26 Witbank, Mpumalanga Princess MacDonald 24 Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga Faith Nakana 26 Lebowakgomo, Limpopo Nkosi Shange 29 Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Niikiey Kubheka 18 Vosloorus, Gauteng Envic Booysen 25 Cape Town, Western Cape Thando Mdluli 22 Orange Farm, Gauteng Sena Mkhwanazi 28 Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Lungelo Motaung 28 Johannesburg, Gauteng Lungile Mthethwa 24 Benoni, Gauteng Sipho Manana 19 Johannesburg, Gauteng Neve Arnolds 22 Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Weekly Song Choice and Results
Top 12: Duets With Former Idols Ladies (19 August) +ActOrderSong — Duets With Former IdolsOrder Song — SoloResult Lungile1"Not Yet Uhuru" by Letta Mbulu (sung with Yanga)2"Intliziyo" by Lloyiso ft. Langa Mavuso Safe Niikiey3"Make a Way" by Spirit of Praise ft. Mmatema (sung with Mmatema)4"Intliziyo" by Zonke Safe Neve5 "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland (sung with Paxton)6 "Mirror" by Madison Ryann Ward Eliminated Lungelo7"Safe" by Karabo ft. Tineke (sung with Karabo)8"Golden" by Jill Scott Safe Sena9"Lonely Without You" by Lloyiso (sung with Lloyiso)10"Sana Lwami" by Woza Sabza ft. Jessica LM Safe Princess11"Xolele" by Musa ft. Zama Khumalo (sung with Musa)12"Russian Roulette" by Rihanna Safe
Gents (26 August) +ActOrderSong — Duets With Former IdolsOrderSong — SoloResult Thando1"Khakhathi" by Karabo (sung with Karabo)2"Noma" by Kaylow Safe Faith3"So Will I (100 Billion X)" by Hillsong United (sung with Yanga)4"Tjontjobina" by Bhudaza Safe Nkosi5 "Wozala" by Musa ft. Ntsika & Tshego AMG (sung with Musa)6 "Nemimoya" by Nathi Safe Envic7"Battleground" by Paxton (sung with Paxton)8"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown Safe Sipho9"Seasons" by Lloyiso (with Lloyiso)10"Don't Judge Me" by Chris Brown Eliminated Thabo11"My Time Is Now!" by Mmatema (with Mmatema)12"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder Safe
Top 10: New Kids on the Block (2 September) +ActOrderSongResult Nkosi1"Ubuhle Bakho" by Ami FakuSafe Lungile2"Mina Nawe" by Soamattrix & Mashudu ft. Happy Jazzman & Emotionz DJEliminated Faith3"Imvula" by Murumba Pitch & Omit ST ft. Russell Zuma & Sipho MagudulelaSafe Sena4"Ngibambe La" by MthunziSafe Niikiey5"Umona" by Nomfundo MohSafe Envic6"ICU" by Coco JonesSafe Princess7"Monalisa" by Lojay, Sarz & Chris BrownSafe Thabo8"Molo" by Aubrey QwanaSafe Lungelo9"Fatela" by Aymos & Ami FakuSafe Thando10"Hamba Juba" by Lady Amar, JL SA, Cici & Murumba PitchSafe
Top 9: Ultimate South African Wedding Playlist (9 September) +ActOrderSongResult Niikiey1"Mmatswale" by MalaikaSafe Lungelo2"At Last" by Etta JamesEliminated Faith3"Matswale" by Caiphus SemenyaSafe Nkosi4"Ekhwan Lami" by Phila Dlozi ft. MthunziSafe Thando5"Is This Love" by Bob Marley and the WailersSafe Princess6"Phakade" by LiraSafe Thabo7"A Thousand Years" by Christina PerriSafe Envic8"When I First Saw You (Duet)" by Jamie Foxx ft. BeyoncéSafe Sena9"All I Do" by Stevie WonderSafe
Top 8: Lionel Richie Playbook (16 September) +ActOrderSongResult Thando1"Love, Oh Love" by Lionel RichieSafe Sena2"You Are" by Lionel RichieEliminated Envic3"I Call It Love" by Lionel RichieSafe Niikiey4"Easy" by CommodoresSafe Thabo5"We Are the World" by USA for AfricaSafe Princess6"Just Go" by Lionel Richie ft. AkonSafe Nkosi7"Ballerina Girl" by Lionel RichieSafe Faith8"Penny Lover" by Lionel RichieSafe
Top 7: Showstopper (23 September) +ActOrderSongResult Nkosi1"Good Kisser" by UsherSafe Niikiey2"The Way Ungakhona" by Bongo MaffinSafe Faith3"Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsSafe Thando4"Caught Up" by UsherEliminated Princess5"Criminal" by DJ Mshega ft. Lady ZamarSafe Envic6"Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé ft. Jay-ZSafe Thabo7"The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael JacksonSafe
Before the Top 7 performances, Sena had the opportunity to perform Rude Boy by Rihanna.
Top 6: How to Do It & Grammy-Nominated Songs (30 September) +ActOrderSong — How to Do ItOrderSong — Grammy-Nominated SongResult Envic1"Nomvula" by Nathi7"When a Man Loves a Woman" by Michael Bolton Eliminated Faith2"Best Part" by Daniel Caesar ft. H.E.R.8"Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye Safe Niikiey3 "Inkanyezi" by Mondli Ngcobo9 "Knock You Down" by Keri Hilson ft. Kanye West & Ne-Yo Safe Thabo4"I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner10"In Love With Another Man" by Jazmine Sullivan Safe Nkosi5"Kiss from a Rose" by Seal11"All of Me" by John Legend Safe Princess6"Dangerously in Love 2" by Beyoncé12"Fallin'" by Alicia Keys Safe
Top 5: Duets With Gospel Stars & Songs by African Stars (7 October) +ActOrderSong — Duets With Gospel StarsOrder Song — Songs by African StarsResult Thabo1"Wafika" with Dr Tumi6 "Peru" by Fireboy DML & Ed Sheeran Safe Princess2"Ungukuphila" with Xolly Mncwango7"For My Hand" by Burna Boy ft. Ed Sheeran Safe Niikiey3 "Ngena Noah" with Betusile Mcinga8 "Maradona" by Niniola Eliminated Faith4"Healing Power" with Xolly Mncwango9"In My Maserati" by Olakira Safe Nkosi5"Nomathemba" with Betusile Mcinga10 "People" by Libianca Safe
Top 4: PJ Morton's Playlist & Perfect Date Love Songs (14 October) +ActOrderSong — PJ Morton's PlaylistOrder Song — Perfect Date Love SongsResult Princess1"On & On" by Erykah Badu5 "Shayizandla" by Naima Kay Safe Nkosi2"Ordinary People" by John Legend6"Sondela" by Ringo Madlingozi Eliminated Faith3 "Love" by Musiq Soulchild7 "Bekezela" by Bekezela Safe Thabo4"Kiss" by Prince8"Ndinike Indawo" by Jaziel Brothers Safe
Top 3: DJ Collaboration, Song of the Season & Hits From Their Idols (21 October) +ActOrderSong — DJ CollaborationOrderSong — Song of the SeasonOrderSong — Hits From Their IdolsResult Thabo1"Inde" by Heavy-K ft. Bucie & Nokwazi4"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" by Stevie Wonder7"You Are" by HleSafe Faith2"Piano Ngijabulise" by Deep London ft. Nkosazana Daughter, Murumba Pitch & Jandak15 "Tjontjobina" by Bhudaza8"Thrrr...Phaaa!" by Selaelo SelotaEliminated Princess3"Hamba Wena" by Deep London ft. Boohle6"Russian Roulette" by Rihanna9"Listen" by Beyoncé Safe
Top 2: Idols-Produced Single, Viewers' Choice & Mzansi Classics (28 October) +ActOrderSong — Idols-Produced SingleOrderSong — Viewers' ChoiceOrderSong — Mzansi ClassicsResult Princess1"You Know I Do" by Princess MacDonald3"Fallin'" by Alicia Keys5"Umqombothi" by Yvonne Chaka Chaka Runner-up Thabo2"iSlungu" by Thabo Ndlovu4 "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri6"Lakutshon' Ilanga" by Miriam Makeba Winner
Before his elimination, Faith Nakana performed his single "Khulumela".
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 Ladies Gents Thabo Ndlovu Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeWinner Princess MacDonaldSafe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeRunner-up Faith Nakana Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe3rd place Eliminated Nkosi Shange Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe4th place Eliminated Niikiey KubhekaSafe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe5th place Eliminated Envic Booysen Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe6th place Eliminated Thando Mdluli Safe Safe Safe Safe7th place Eliminated Sena Mkhwanazi Safe Safe Safe8th place Eliminated Lungelo Motaung Safe Safe9th place Eliminated Lungile Mthethwa Safe 10th place Eliminated Sipho Manana 11th place Eliminated Neve Arnolds12th place Eliminated
References