HAVING ALL IT TAKES: The final six contestants of the 11th edition of Idols South Africa. Siphelele Ngcobo, left, Dineo Moseki, Loyiso Gijana, Mmatema Moremi, Rhema Varrie and Karabo Mogane. HAVING ALL IT TAKES: The final six contestants of the 11th edition of Idols South Africa. Siphelele Ngcobo, left, Dineo Moseki, Loyiso Gijana, Mmatema Moremi, Rhema Varrie and Karabo Mogane.
KWAZULU-NATAL’S last hope in the 11th season of M-Net’s Idols South Africa, Siphelele Ngcobo, from Inanda, is now in the final six of a contest that saw 4 million more votes cast last week than for the corresponding week in last year’s season.
The series reached another milestone when more than 6.4 million votes were cast last week to lose another contestant from the top seven on Sunday.
The popular show’s “comeback kid”, 22-year-old Amanda Antony from Port Elizabeth, received the fewest votes by Sunday, making her the fourth Top 10 finalist to go home.
Each of the remaining six contestants performed two songs on Sunday under the musical theme of “90s versus today” – one song each from the decade in which they were all born and then a hit from the current charts.
Ngcobo, who was born in 1991, selected the All 4 One hit I Can Love You Like That. His second-round song choice was Nathi’s Nomvula, which earned him a standing ovation from judges Unathi Msengana and Somizi Mhlongo.
“I was blown away,” said judge Gareth Cliff. “Your voice is anointed!”
Mhlongo raved, adding: “Even if you don’t speak English or sing English, stick to where your heart and soul is, you will never be hungry.”
Msengana said Siphelele “destroyed” with the second performance, and judge Randall Abrahams appeared dumbstruck. “Just a few weeks ago it looked like you were going home,” he spluttered. “In my time on Idols I’ve never seen such a comeback.”
The first person to receive enough votes to survive to the Top 6 was 24-year-old Karabo Mogane of Mbombela, who performed Boys II Men’s Water Runs Dry and the Hozier’s hit Someone New.
Next up was Dineo Moseki, 22, of Vryburg, who sang Lauryn Hill’s Ex-Factor and Beatenberg’s Rafael.
Also still in the contest are 21-year-old Rhema Varrie of Alberton, 23-year-old Mmatema Moremi of Limpopo and 16-year-old Loyiso Gijana of Uitenhage.
Voting for the Top 6 opened during Sunday’s live broadcast and closes at 10pm today.
The Mercury