# Idols South Africa season 8

Idols South Africa VIII is the eighth season of South African reality interactive talent show based on the British talent show Pop Idol.
After the auditions, call backs will be held in Sun City for the golden ticket holders.

## Regional auditions

Auditions began February 2012, and were held in the following cities:
| Episode Air Date | Audition City | Audition Date | Audition Venue | Tickets to Sun City |
| 3 June 2012 | Johannesburg, Gauteng | 4 February 2012 | Sandton Convention Centre | 39 |
| 3 June 2012 | Soweto, Gauteng | 25 February 2012 | Walter Sisulu Hall | 39 |
| 10 June 2012 | Durban, Kwazulu Natal | 11 February 2012 | uShaka Marine World | 21 |
| 17 June 2012 | Cape Town, Western Cape | 18 February 2012 | Grandwest Arena | 29 |
| | | | Total countrywide | 89 |
* Johannesburg and Soweto auditions were aired together on the same episode, 39 golden tickets were given between the two episodes.

## Top 18 Show

The judges chose the top 18 on Sunday 15 July 2012.
| | Contestant | Age | Hometown | Occupation |
| 1 | Candida Mosoma | 29 | Pretoria | Performer |
| 2 | Chloe Kiley | 24 | Cape Town | Performer |
| 3 | Dominic Neill | 20 | Johannesburg | Entertainer |
| 4 | Dumi Masilela | 24 | Johannesburg | Soccer Player and Singer |
| 5 | Jean Huisman | 20 | Port Elizabeth | Student |
| 6 | Khaya Mthethwa | 25 | Durban | Singer |
| 7 | Maryke Buffel | 22 | Paarl | Singer |
| 8 | Matthew Sampson | 21 | Cape Town | Musician |
| 9 | Melissa Alison | 23 | Port Elizabeth | Musician |
| 10 | Monde Msutwana | 30 | Witbank | Marketing Assistant and Radio Presenter |
| 11 | Nosipho Mngomezulu | 22 | Brakpan | Farmer |
| 12 | Obakeng Ramaboa | 26 | Munsieville | Singer |
| 13 | Shekhinah Donnell | 17 | Durban | Student |
| 14 | Makoma Mahowa | 23 | Ermelo | Performer |
| 15 | Simphiwe Gwegwe | 23 | Port Nolloth | Performer |
| 16 | Thabisa Mhlakulwana (Rich) | 28 | Port Elizabeth | Singer |
| 17 | Treasure Mushwana | 21 | Roodepoort | Musician |
| 18 | Tshidi Tenyane | 28 | Thokoza | Jewelry Designer and Musician |

### Semi-final: Male

The Top 18 contestants were split into two groups male and female and performed a song of their own choice. The guys group show aired on 21 July 2012 and the girls group show air on 22 July 2012 and viewers had the week to vote for their Top 10.
| | Guys | Age | Hometown | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Matthew Sampson | 21 | Cape Town | "Save Tonight" (Eagle-Eye Cherry) | 3,24% (9/9) |
| 2 | Dumi Masilela | 24 | Johannesburg | "Sexy Love" (Ne-Yo) | 4,91% (6/9) |
| 3 | Obakeng Ramaboa | 26 | Munsieville | "If There's Any Justice" (Lemar) | 6,29% (4/9) |
| 4 | Jean Huisman | 20 | Port Elizabeth | "Love the One You're With" (Stephen Stills) | 4,88% (7/9) |
| 5 | Simphiwe Gwegwe | 23 | Port Nolloth | "Angel" (Sarah McLachlan) | 14,40% (2/9) |
| 6 | Dominic Neill | 20 | Johannesburg | "Don't Stop the Music" (Jamie Cullum) | 5,02% (5/9) |
| 7 | Monde Msutwana | 30 | Witbank | "When a Woman Loves" (R. Kelly) | 8,47% (3/9) |
| 8 | Khaya Mthethwa | 24 | Johannesburg | "If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys) | 49,36% (1/9) |
| 9 | Treasure Mushwana | 21 | Roodepoort | "Cooler Than Me" (Mike Posner) | 3,41% (8/9) |

### Semi-final: Female

| | Girls | Age | Hometown | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Siphesihle Ndaba | 23 | Ermelo | "Firework" (Katy Perry) | 6,63% (8/9) |
| 2 | Tshidi Tenyane | 28 | Thokoza | "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (Jennifer Hudson) | 14,69% (2/9) |
| 3 | Maryke Buffel | 22 | Paarl | "Rock Steady" (Aretha Franklin) | 7,99% (6/9) |
| 4 | Chloe Kiley | 24 | Cape Town | "Somebody That I Used to Know" (Gotye) | 11,23% (4/9) |
| 5 | Shekhinah Donnell | 17 | Durban | "Thinking of You" (Katy Perry) | 25,78% (1/9) |
| 6 | Nosipho Mngomezulu | 22 | Brakpan | "Respect" (Aretha Franklin) | 10,36% (5/9) |
| 7 | Thabisa Mhlakulwana(Rich) | 28 | Port Elizabeth | "Loliwe" (Zahara) | 6,85% (7/9) |
| 8 | Melissa Alison | 23 | Port Elizabeth | "Domino" (Jessie J) | 11,75% (3/9) |
| 9 | Candida Mosoma | 29 | Pretoria | "The Edge of Glory" (Lady Gaga) | 4,70% (9/9) |

## Finals
### Finalists

(ages stated at time of contest)
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Voted Off | Spectacular Theme |
| Khaya Mthethwa | 25 | Durban | Winner | Final |
| Melissa Alison | 23 | Port Elizabeth | Runner-Up | Final |
| Monde Msutwana | 30 | Witbank | 25 Sep 2012 | Semi-Final |
| Tshidi Tenyane | 28 | Thokoza | 18 Sep 2012 | Homebrew |
| Simphiwe Gwegwe | 23 | Port Nolloth | 11 Sep 2012 | Greatest song according to Rolling Stone Magazine |
| Shekhinah Donnell | 17 | Durban | 4 Sep 2012 | Showstopper |
| Dominic Neill | 20 | Johannesburg | 28 Aug 2012 | Soul |
| Chloe Kiley | 24 | Cape Town | 21 Aug 2012 | Song from My Birth Year |
| Nosipho Mngomezulu | 22 | Brakpan | 14 Aug 2012 | Grammy Award Winner |
| Obakeng Ramaboa | 26 | Munsieville | 7 Aug 2012 | Old school/ New School |

### Top 10 – Old/New School

| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Nosipho Mngomezulu | "Lady Marmalade" (Patti LaBelle) | 3,86% (7/10) |
| 2 | Obakeng Ramaboa | "Kiss" (Prince) | 3,00% (10/10) |
| 3 | Monde Msutwana | "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" (Barry White) | 3,89% (6/10) |
| 4 | Chloe Kiley | "Missing You" (John Waite) | 5,80% (5/10) |
| 5 | Simphiwe Gwegwe | "Kiss and Say Goodbye" (Denim) | 9,01% (4/10) |
| 6 | Dominic Neill | "I Need A Dollar" (Aloe Blacc) | 3,40% (8/10) |
| 7 | Melissa Allison | "Superstition" (Stevie Wonder) | 3,29% (9/10) |
| 8 | Khaya Mthethwa | "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" (Aerosmith) | 33,09% (1/10) |
| 9 | Shekhinah Donnell | "Simply the Best" (Tina Turner) | 9,64% (3/10) |
| 10 | Tshidi Tenyane | "How Will I Know" (Whitney Houston) | 25,01% (2/10) |

### Top 9 – Grammy Award winner

Guest Performance: John Legend
| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Without You" (David Guetta feat Usher) | 29,73% (1/9) |
| 2 | Monde Msutwana | "Crawling Back to You" (Daughtry) | 6,95% (6/9) |
| 3 | Melissa Allison | "Gabriel" (Joe Goddard) | 8,80% (5/9) |
| 4 | Shekhinah Donnell | "Marry the Night" (Lady Gaga) | 12,56% (3/9) |
| 5 | Simphiwe Gwegwe | "Beautiful Monster" (Ne-Yo) | 11,46% (4/9) |
| 6 | Tshidi Tenyane | "My Immortal" (Evanescence) | 16,06% (2/9) |
| 7 | Nosipho Mngomezulu | "Grenade" (Bruno Mars) | 3,77% (9/9) |
| 8 | Dominic Neill | "Dynamite" (Taio Cruz) | 5,63% (7/9) |
| 9 | Chloe Kiley | "Misery Business" (Paramore) | 5,03% (8/9) |

### Top 8 – Song from My Birth Year

| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Tshidi Tenyane (1984) | "It's Raining Men" (The Weather Girls) | 11,98% (3/8) |
| 2 | Dominic Neill (1992) | "To Be with You" (Mr. Big) | 5,67% (7/8) |
| 3 | Simphiwe Gwegwe (1989) | "Man in the Mirror" (Michael Jackson) | 11,15% (4/8) |
| 4 | Chloe Kiley (1988) | "Never Tear Us Apart" (INXS) | 5,66% (8/8) |
| 5 | Monde Msutwana (1982) | "Rosanna" (Toto) | 9,84% (6/8) |
| 6 | Khaya Mthethwa (1988) | "September" (Earth, Wind and Fire) | 31,91% (1/8) |
| 7 | Melissa Allison (1989) | "Eternal Flame" (The Bangles) | 10,13% (5/8) |
| 8 | Shekhinah Donnell (1995) | "Waterfalls" (TLC) | 13,65% (2/8) |

### Top 7 – Soul

| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Simphiwe Gwegwe | "Sign of a Victory" (R. Kelly) | 11,51% (5/7) |
| 2 | Tshidi Tenyane | "As" (Mary J. Blige) | 11,91% (4/7) |
| 3 | Monde Msutwana | "Purple Rain" (Prince) | 12,28% (3/7) |
| 4 | Dominic Neill | "Paradise" (Coldplay) | 6,57% (7/7) |
| 5 | Shekhinah Donnell | "I Try" (Macy Grey) | 14,94% (2/7) |
| 6 | Khaya Mthethwa | "The World's Greatest" (R. Kelly) | 33,12% (1/7) |
| 7 | Melissa Allison | "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (Aretha Franklin & Eurythmics) | 9,67% (6/7) |

### Top 6 – Showstopper

| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Shekhinah Donnell | "Till the World Ends" (Britney Spears) | 10,98% (6/6) |
| 2 | Melissa Allison | "Where Have You Been" (Rihanna) | 13,75% (3/6) |
| 3 | Monde Msutwana | "Scream" (Usher) | 12,07% (5/6) |
| 4 | Simphiwe Gwegwe | "Turn Up the Music" (Chris Brown) | 14,48% (2/6) |
| 5 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Knock You Down" (Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo & Kanye West) | 36,58% (1/6) |
| 6 | Tshidi Tenyane | "Crazy in Love" (Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z) | 12,15% (4/6) |

### Top 5 – Greatest songs according to Rolling Stone Magazine

| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Monde Msutwana | "One" (U2) | 14,41% (4/5) |
| 1 | Monde Msutwana | "Cry Me a River" (Justin Timberlake) | 14,41% (4/5) |
| 2 | Simphiwe Gwegwe | "No Woman, No Cry" (Bob Marley) | 13,66% (5/5) |
| 2 | Simphiwe Gwegwe | "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Bonnie Raitt) | 13,66% (5/5) |
| 3 | Tshidi Tenyane | "Imagine" (John Lennon) | 16,57% (2/5) |
| 3 | Tshidi Tenyane | "River Deep - Mountain High" (Ike & Tina Turner) | 16,57% (2/5) |
| 4 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Let's Get It On" (Marvin Gaye) | 40,41% (1/5) |
| 4 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Try a Little Tenderness" (Otis Redding) | 40,41% (1/5) |
| 5 | Melissa Allison | "Ain't No Sunshine" (Bill Withers) | 14,95% (3/5) |
| 5 | Melissa Allison | "Proud Mary" (Tina Turner) | 14,95% (3/5) |

### Top 4 – Homebrew

| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Melissa Allison | "Lovesick" (The Arrows) | 19,57% (2/4) |
| 1 | Melissa Allison | "Ndihamba Nawe" (Mafikizolo) | 19,57% (2/4) |
| 2 | Monde Msutwana | "Dominoes" (Brian Temba) | 19,20% (3/4) |
| 2 | Monde Msutwana | "Indigo Girl" (Watershed) | 19,20% (3/4) |
| 3 | Tshidi Tenyane | "Ndawo Yami" (Zamajobe) | 16,20% (4/4) |
| 3 | Tshidi Tenyane | "Doo Bee Doo" (Freshlyground) | 16,20% (4/4) |
| 4 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Lengoma" (Zahara) | 45,03% (1/4) |
| 4 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Blue Eyes" (Springbok Nude Girls) | 45,03% (1/4) |
| N/A | Monde Msutwana | "Think Like a Man" (Jennifer Hudson & Ne-Yo feat. Rick Ross) | N/A |
| N/A | Tshidi Tenyane | "Think Like a Man" (Jennifer Hudson & Ne-Yo feat. Rick Ross) | N/A |
| N/A | Melissa Allison | "Need You Now" (Lady Antebellum) | N/A |
| N/A | Khaya Mthethwa | "Need You Now" (Lady Antebellum) | N/A |

### Top 3 – Theatre week (Semi-final)

| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| 1 | Monde Msutwana | "By Your Side" (Sade) | 20,71% (3/3) |
| 1 | Monde Msutwana | "Pumped Up Kicks" (Foster the People) | 20,71% (3/3) |
| 1 | Monde Msutwana | "Night Shift" (Commodores) | 20,71% (3/3) |
| 2 | Melissa Allison | "Fallin'" (Alicia Keys) | 22,09% (2/3) |
| 2 | Melissa Allison | "Chasing Pavements" (Adele) | 22,09% (2/3) |
| 2 | Melissa Allison | "Unfaithful" (Rihanna) | 22,09% (2/3) |
| 3 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Down to Earth" (Justin Bieber) | 57,21% (1/3) |
| 3 | Khaya Mthethwa | "She Will Be Loved" (Maroon 5) | 57,21% (1/3) |
| 3 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Super Bass" (Nicki Minaj) | 57,21% (1/3) |

### Top 2 – Final (Favourite performance, Most Talkes Performance & Winner's single)

Guest Judge:Ciara
| Order | Contestant | Song (Original Artist) | Result |
| N/A | Melissa Allison | "No Air" (Chris Brown ft. Jordin Sparks) | N/A |
| N/A | Khaya Mthethwa | "No Air" (Chris Brown ft. Jordin Sparks) | N/A |
| 1 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Try a Little Tenderness" (Otis Redding) | 80,20% (1/2) |
| 1 | Khaya Mthethwa | "The World's Greatest" (R. Kelly) | 80,20% (1/2) |
| 1 | Khaya Mthethwa | "Move" (Khaya Mthethwa) | 80,20% (1/2) |
| 2 | Melissa Allison | "Gabriel" (Joe Goddard) | 19,80% (2/2) |
| 2 | Melissa Allison | "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (Aretha Franklin & Eurythmics) | 19,80% (2/2) |
| 2 | Melissa Allison | "I Could Spend a Lifetime" (Melissa Allison) | 19,80% (2/2) |

## Elimination chart

| Females | Males | Top 18 | Top 10 | Winner |
| Safe | Most votes | Safe First | Safe Last | Eliminated | Judges' Save |
| Stage: | Stage: | Semi-Final | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Week: | Week: | 7/29 | 8/5 | 8/12 | 8/19 | 8/26 | 9/2 | 9/9 | 9/16 | 9/23 | 9/30 |
| Place | Contestant | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result |
| 1 | Khaya Mthethwa | Top 10 | 1st 33,09% | 1st 29,73% | 1st 31,91% | 1st 33,12% | 1st 36,58% | 1st 40,41% | 1st 45,03% | 1st 57,21% | Winner 80,20% |
| 2 | Melissa Alison | Top 10 | 9th 3,29% | 5th 8,80% | 5th 10,13% | 6th 9,67% | 3rd 13,75% | 3rd 14,95% | 2nd 19,57% | 2nd 22,09% | Runner-Up 19,80% |
| 3 | Monde Msutwana | Top 10 | 6th 3,89% | 6th 6,95% | 6th 9,84% | 3rd 12,28% | 5th 12,06% | 4th 14,41% | 3rd 19,20% | 3rd 20,71% | |
| 4 | Tshidi Tenyane | Top 10 | 2nd 25,01% | 2nd 16,06% | 3rd 11,98% | 4th 11,91% | 4th 12,15% | 2nd 16,57% | 4th 16,20% | | |
| 5 | Simphiwe Gwegwe | Top 10 | 4th 9,01% | 4th 11,46% | 4th 11,15% | 5th 11,51% | 2nd 14,48% | 5th 13,66% | | | |
| 6 | Shekhinah Donnell | Top 10 | 3rd 9,64% | 3rd 12,56% | 2nd 13,65% | 2nd 14,94% | 6th 10,98% | | | | |
| 7 | Dominic Neill | Top 10 | 8th 3,40% | 7th 5,63% | 7th 5,67% | 7th 6,57% | | | | | |
| 8 | Chloe Kiley | Top 10 | 5th 5,80% | 8th 5,03% | 8th 5,66% | | | | | | |
| 9 | Nosipho Mngomezulu | Top 10 | 7th 3,86% | 9th 3,77% | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Obakeng Ramaboa | Top 10 | 10th 3,00% | | | | | | | | |
| 11–18 | Candy Mosoma | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–18 | Dumi Masilela | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–18 | Jean Huisman | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–18 | Maryke Buffel | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–18 | Matthew Sampson | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–18 | Siphesihle Ndaba | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–18 | Thabisa Mhlakulwana(Rich) | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–18 | Treasure Mushwana | Elim | | | | | | | | | |